After Agassi’s admission to drug use in 1997 the world reacts. See what people around the world are saying below:

Francesco Ricci Bitti (International Tennis Federation president):

“The ITF is surprised and disappointed by the remarks made by Andre Agassi in his biography admitting substance abuse in 1997. Such comments in no way reflect the fact that the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is currently regarded as one of the most rigorous and comprehensive anti-doping programmes in sport. The events in question occurred before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was founded in 1999 and during the formative years of anti-doping in tennis when the programme was managed by individual governing bodies.”

John Fahey (World Anti Doping Agency president):

“We would hope that 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. The World Anti-Doping Code, which took effect in 2004, has an eight-year statute of limitations, and it is unlikely that any action may be taken by tennis authorities against the player, if methamphetamine was banned under the ATP List of Prohibited Substances and Methods at that time. WADA would however expect the ATP, which administered its own anti-doping program at that time, to shed light on this allegation.”

ATP Statement:

“Under the tennis anti-doping programme it is, and has always been, an independent panel that makes a decision on whether a doping violation has been found. The ATP has always followed this rule and no executive at the ATP has therefore had the authority or ability to decide the outcome of an anti-doping matter.”

Mark Miles, CEO of the ATP from 1990-2005 (to tennisnews.com):

“I can’t comment on any case. I can’t even confirm that there was a case involving Andre. And I’m not going to comment on Andre’s book. But I can amplify. I’ve seen the ATP statement and the statement is true. The ATP program was set up to ensure that any decision on any case was decided by a panel, a tribunal. And there were no exceptions to that.”

Neil Harman (Times’ tennis correspondent):

“It is certainly going to take a bit of the sheen off his legacy. Anyone who polished his image with the vigour he did can’t expect for everyone to say “OK no problem – it’s Andre”…Whatever happens, Agassi is one of the greatest tennis players we have ever seen and I don’t think a couple of afternoons when he felt the need to be someone he wasn’t should detract from his contribution the sport.”

Rick Reilly (ESPN columnist):

“You can condemn Agassi all you want for the crystal meth – and he’d deserve it – but remember, Agassi dropped the habit soon after. Then, in 1998, he made the biggest one-year jump into the Top 10 in the history of the ATP rankings, going from his year-end 122 to number six. He’d win five of his eight major titles after finding the bottom. They call Agassi the greatest returner in history. They aren’t kidding… This book is about more than the wrong turns he took. It’s about how that broken road led him straight to the good man he is now.”
Steve Bierley (Guardian tennis correspondent): “The most shocking aspect of the revelation is that the ATP covered up the whole matter completely. But then the players half own the ATP, a factor that continues to worry those both within and outside the game. As with the nandrolone affair, and the more recent suggestions of match fixing, the ATP waits for the smoke to die down, and then hopes everything will be forgotten.”

Simon Reed (Eurosport commentator/blogger):

“For Agassi’s part, I think it was the right thing to do. Okay, maybe it has something to do with trying to sell copies of the book, but I think it had more to do with his innate sense of honesty. There was no real reason for him to come out and say this other than to show what has gone on in the game and what leading players are able to get away with. So for me, the fact that he used the drug doesn’t tarnish his reputation at all, but it is worrying to think about what else in the game of tennis has still to be uncovered.”