Andre Agassi Tops List of Celebs Addicted to Meth
Tennis champ reveals he did crystal meth and lied about it to officials.
Oct. 28, 2009 — -- Sometimes, it seems like substance abuse and celebrities are like that old song about love and marriage: you can't have one without the other.
Andre Agassi's the latest star to admit a predilection for drugs. In his upcoming autobiography titled "Open," the eight-time Grand Slam champion reveals that he used crystal meth in 1997, around the same time he married actress Brooke Shields, and lied to tennis authorities when he failed a drug test, claiming he "unwittingly" took the substance.
According to an excerpt of the autobiography published today in the Times of London, Agassi writes that he sent a letter to the ATP tour to explain the positive test, saying he accidentally drank from a soda spiked with meth by his assistant "Slim."
Agassi also writes in his book that "Slim" was the person who introduced him to crystal meth, dumping a small pile of powder on the coffee table.
"I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've just crossed," Agassi writes.
"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."
"I'm seized by a desperate desire to clean. I go tearing around my house, cleaning it from top to bottom. I dust the furniture. I scour the tub. I make the beds."
Now healthy and happy with current wife and fellow tennis champion Steffi Graf, Agassi hopes his fans won't change their opinion of him after reading about his low point in life.
"I was worried for a moment, but not for long," he told People magazine. "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."
Below, check out four other celebrities who've been mired in crystal meth: