BOCA RATON, Fla. -- There were forehand volleys on the court and verbal volleys at the dinner. Celebrities and legends gathered for the 20th anniversary of the Chris Evert Tennis Classic to raise money for the Chris Evert Children's Hospital. One popular topic, to no one's surprise, was Andre Agassi.
"I don't know if it will tarnish his name," said Bud Collins of Agassi's explosive revelation that he used crystal meth for more than a year back in 1997. "I think Andre's admission is a catharsis of something that has been festering in him for years, for a decade. I salute his candor."
Martina Navratilova, sitting a table away from Collins, strongly disagreed. "It's shocking that Andre lied and didn't own up to it," she said. "Yes, he finally admitted it in a book, but it doesn't matter now."
Pam Shriver, another Hall of Famer in attendance, stretched the blame beyond the player.
"This should serve notice that there has got to be consistency and vigilance in testing for illegal drugs," said Shriver. "And the application of that punishment has got to be fair."
In 1997, when Agassi was told of his positive urine test by the ATP, he blamed the positive result on a mistake -- that he had accidentally had a soda spiked with crystal meth. The ATP accepted his explanation and dismissed the case.
Navratilova, who won a record 167 singles titles, including 18 majors, wants people to consider what Agassi's admission means to his legacy.
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"Should a tournament that Andre won, while he should have been suspended, be taken away?" she asked.
Others disagree with her. Justin Gimelstob, who rolls his eyes at the memory of beating Agassi 7-5, 6-2 in July of 1997 while Agassi was admittedly using crystal meth, thinks that Agassi is trying to navigate his life as honestly as he can.
"Andre's a deep thinker, and I have never met a more compassionate person in tennis," said Gimelstob, a former 4.0 student at UCLA before joining the tour in 1996. "I am disappointed in the criticism of him. I think it's incredibly judgmental."
The former No. 1 player in the world doesn't appear to need the money he'll earn from selling his book. Agassi made more than $30 million in prize money and was an enormously popular pitchman. But in 1997, when his ranking was slipping, he says a friend named "Slim" offered him crystal meth. Slim promised it would make Agassi feel like Superman, capable of doing anything. Agassi writes that he experienced a moment of regret, but that was followed by a "tidal wave of euphoria." He went into detail on 60 Minutes with Katie Couric.
What exactly is crystal meth? Discovered by a Japanese chemist in 1919, it was used during World War II to keep the troops awake at night and to energize the workers in the factories. Taken in the form of powder, crystal meth travels to the brain quickly. In small doses, it makes a person energetic, faster and more confident, but greater and greater doses are required to maintain the euphoric effect.
At some point, the increased dosage leads to nervousness and unpredictability, a diminished appetite and difficulty sleeping. With prolonged use, it can lead to psychosis.
"A drug-policy system can only work if it's definitive," said Shriver. "It seems that the ATP didn't want to give Andre the mandatory three-month ban, and now it's past the statute of limitations. "
John Fahey, the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), wants tennis authorities to find out how Agassi tested positive and avoided any penalty. As recently as two years ago, Wimbledon semifinalist Richard Gasquet escaped punishment after testing positive for cocaine by explaining that he kissed a woman who had used the drug.
Drug testing in tennis is now under the watchful eye of WADA, which is calling for increased scrutiny. Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have condemned Agassi's acts, and both admitted that the publicity could damage the sport. Sergei Bubka, the former Olympic pole vault champion, is calling for action to be taken against Agassi despite the eight-year statute of limitations.
Agassi retired in 2006. His story is to be continued.
