Doha, Oct 28 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Eight-times grand slam winner Andre Agassi admitted using the recreational drug crystal meth and lying to men’s governing body the ATP in order to escape a ban, which would have drastically affected his professional tennis career.

In his autobiography “Open,” the American candidly describes being introduced to the drug in 1997 and the moment when he was informed he had failed a drugs test.

International Tennis Federation (ITF) president Francesco Ricci Bitti said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the revelations and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief John Fahey called on the ATP to “shed light” on the circumstances that freely allowed Agassi to escape punishment all through out his professional tennis career.

In his memoir, the 39-year-old Agassi, talks about the moment he took crystal meths, a highly addictive amphetamine, for the first time when his career was in freefall. His drug-user assistant, known as Slim, helped him.

“Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I’ve crossed,” he said.

“There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I’ve never felt so alive, so hopeful — and I’ve never felt such energy.”

Agassi said that he is not bothered about what these revelations would cost him now. “I wore my heart on my sleeve and my emotions were always written on my face. I was actually excited about telling the world the whole story.”