Agassi name added to drugs shame list
By AFP, 29 Oct 2009 AFP is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Andre Agassi, drugs in sport, Martina Hingis, Tennis
Andre Agassi’s devastating confession of his use of crystal methamphetamine is a devastating blow to his reputation, but the temptations of the tour have snared others over the years.
Former women’s world No.1 Martina Hingis tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007 and later announced her retirement.
The Swiss star, who won five grand slam titles, always maintained her innocence but was banned for two years, a suspension which ran out in October this year.
The ban cut short a comeback she began in 2006 after a three-year retirement.
“There were hard times and it was frustrating knowing I did nothing wrong but couldn’t really fight this. It was my reputation and I knew the truth. But the process didn’t really let me fight,” Hingis told Sports Illustrated recently.
She continued to protest her innocence.
Had she ever taken cocaine?
“No. Never. No (recreational) drugs. I don’t know even the effects. I’ve maybe been in a position where I could have. If I had ever taken cocaine, I would have said so.”
Former American wild-child Jennifer Capriati, a triple grand slam title winner, underwent rehabilitation after being arrested for possession of marijuana as the toll of being a teenage prodigy exacted a heavy price.
Only this year, French player Richard Gasquet was suspended for two and a half months after testing positive for cocaine.
The 23-year-old claimed he had picked up traces of the drug when he kissed a girl in a Miami nightclub.
“Justice has been done,” said Gasquet, a former world number seven after his name was cleared.
“It has been terrible in the last two months, an extraordinary pain.”
America’s Vitas Gerulaitis is tennis’s most tragic symbol of the dangers of drugs.
The former Australian Open winner admitted using cocaine in the 1970s.
He retired at 30 and was dead by the age of 40.
© AAP 2012Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (3) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Other Sports articles
- Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova: Australian Open women’s final live scores, blog (89)
- Why I won’t be watching the Sharapova-Azarenka final (51)
- The sporting fallacy of the Olympic ‘Games’ (45)
- Djokovic vs Nadal was great, but do we need six-hour finals? (36)
- Sonny Bill needs to start boxing full time (36)
- Sonny Bill looking sharp for his first real test (29)
- Sonny Bill wins title in first round (25)
- London’s Olympic Games have a long way to come
- New champ Williams looking to next fight (4)
- Aust and GB aim to convert 4ths to bronze
- Young pitcher signs big deal with Red Sox (7)
- World Cup Darts heartbreak in Hamburg (3)
- Mayweather and Pacquiao have shamed boxing (12)
- Will Tom Brady’s legacy be affected by one drop? (19)
- London’s Olympic Games have a long way to come (0)
- World Cup Darts heartbreak in Hamburg (3)
- Mayweather and Pacquiao have shamed boxing (12)
- Will Tom Brady’s legacy be affected by one drop? (19)
- Sonny Bill needs to start boxing full time (36)
- Lachlan Murdoch squashing FTA sport for Fox’s benefit (4)
- Sonny Bill Williams vs Clarence Tillman III: Live updates, blog [video] (180)
- Explore:
- Andre Agassi, drugs in sport, Martina Hingis, Tennis
Tom said | October 29th 2009 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
Is it really a devastating blow to his reputation?
He has admitted to using drugs once, with a friend, in a hotel room, over 10 years ago, during a low period, which had no long term effect on himself or anyone close to him.
If thats the worst thing he’s done in his life, then he should be canonised.
Greg Russell said | October 29th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
My middle name is Thomas; I agree 100% with my namesake above.
My other thought is that there are millions of drug addicts around the world, very few of whom will recover to achieve of note in their lives. Not that I’m speculating that AA was an addict, but rather than vilifying him, shouldn’t he be held up as a positive example for all people whose lives are blighted by drug use?
The way we jump on famous people for an admitted indiscretion amazes me. What’s next, that someone tries to tell me that Lote Tuqiri’s contract was ripped up because he secretly brought a consenting woman back to his hotel room? As someone commented at the time, if every footballer was sacked who had had extra-marital sex … well let’s just say that there wouldn’t be much on the sports channels for us to watch.
With drug use (as in Agassi’s case) it wouldn’t be too different.
Jameswm said | October 30th 2009 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Greg I think there was more to it with the Tuqiri saga.
I can’t say more lest my post get removed!