Agassi : "Tennis doesn't like cheaters"'

In a recent interview to French daily Metro, Agassi accepted the general outcry created by the release of his autobiography "Open", and even found justified the reactions from many top tennis players, including Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal."

"In a way, it's good that the world of professional tennis didn't support me. Tennis doesn't like cheaters. And here is somebody who gets away with it"

Adding : "But I was 141 in the world, and nobody predicted I could come back. That's why they (the ATP) concluded it was no performance-enhancing drug"

Ref : http://www.metrofrance.com/sport/agassi-le-tennis-n-aime-pas-les-tricheurs/milp!FE5z04YVM2OmY/

John Newcombe voices his support for Agassi

Aussie Tennis legend John Newcombe came in support of Agassi after the turmoil created by his revelations of crystal meth use in 1997.

He argued that Agassi's drug use was not related to doping, but linked with depression.

""It's just a little show of support because there are a lot of people criticising him ... and I'm not sure they have got the facts right."

"The weaknesses revealed are not anti-tennis, they are human frailties, the story of living with that sort of pressure," he said.

Ref : http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/newk-serves-up-some-love-for-agassi/2009/11/12/1257615112723.html

Agassi to Marat Safin : "I give you the entire year of 1997"

Andre Agassi reacted yesterday to Marat Safin's comments that the American should "give back his Grand Slam titles" following his admittance of taking crystal meth in 1997.

Taken from yesterday's Good Day LA show, where Agassi replied to the newly retreated Russian player : 


"In 1997, I fell to 141 in the world, my life was in ruins. I would love to take that entire year, box it up, I'd love to send it to him, he can have the whole year"

Earlier this week, Aussie tennis legend John Newcombe dismissed Safin's suggestion as "stupid. I think that was a bit of Marat tongue-in-cheek."

Ref : Good Day LA, Youtube 3'30"" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3awzlCIaJM

He who takes crystal meth... needs help, says Agassi

Reasserting that he didn't take crystal meth as performance-enhancer, Agassi called for more nuancies in doping penalties.

"It clearly wasn't performance-enhancing. If a guy fails a drug test for crystal meth, we should be trying to get him help"

See also our article on Navratilova comparing Agassi to Roger Clemens.

Ref : http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/11/andre-agassi-autobiography.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+LAT_Sports_Blog+(The+Fabulous+Forum)

Agassi "only hurting himself" as he took crystal meth

Interviewed by the LA Times, Andre Agassi acknowledged that if he had failed a drug test today, he would have been suspended by the authorities of his sport.

"It couldn't happen today, and that's a good thing". He explained that he would have been impossible today to get away with a lie to the ATP, contrary to what happened in his his favor in 1997.

Ref : http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/11/andre-agassi-autobiography.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+LAT_Sports_Blog+(The+Fabulous+Forum)   

Eurosport UK viewers opposed to penalties against Agassi

In a recent internet poll conducted by Eurosport UK ( Eurosport is a European sports satellite and cable network)- 59%  of the participants answered "no" to the question : "Should tennis authorities punish Andre Agassi after he revealed he took crystal meth and speed ?"

Not everybody's "shocked and awed" ;)

Ref : http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/pollresult.html?poll_id=49653&wv=1