Anti-doping chief urges Andre Agassi drug test probe

Published on Wednesday 28 October 2009 21:04

THE head of the World Anti-Doping Agency wants tennis authorities to shed light on Andre Agassi's admission that he used a banned drug and escaped a suspension by blaming his positive test on a spiked drink.

WADA president John Fahey said yesterday he was disappointed by the revelations in Agassi's autobiography that he used crystal methamphetamine in 1997 and lied to ATP tour officials to avoid a ban.

Fahey said WADA – which was founded in 1999 – can't take action against Agassi because of the agency's eight-year statute of limitations, and that it's "unlikely" the ATP will either. "WADA would, however, expect the ATP, which administered its own anti-doping programme at that time, to shed light on this allegation," Fahey said.

Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, says in his autobiography Open he was introduced to crystal meth by his assistant "Slim" when his form was falling and he was having doubts about his impending marriage to actress Brooke Shields.

In excerpts from the book published yesterday, Agassi said he was informed by the ATP that year that he had tested positive for the drug and could face a three-month ban for use of a recreational substance. He said he sent a letter to the ATP tour claiming he accidentally drank from a soda spiked with meth by "Slim" and asking for leniency.

Agassi said the ATP reviewed the case, accepted his explanation and threw it out. But the ATP said yesterday that an independent panel makes the final decision on a doping violation.

"We would hope Andre Agassi might now see his way to be a role model and alert youth and tennis players to the dangers of drug use and doping," Fahey said.

Methamphetamine is classed as a stimulant under WADA's list of banned substances and the agency's guidelines provide for a ban of up to two years.