Andre Agassi's drugs confession

In his autobiography "Open", Andre Agassi controversially confesses to taking the recreational drug crystal meth while competing on the ATP tour back in 1997, and perhaps even more shockingly, to asking / allowing a friend to take the rap when he failed a doping test around the same time. Now, if it had been bad-boy John McEnroe who had made the admission, perhaps no one would have been that surprised, but the fact that it was Andre Agassi, who was (and still is) regarded as one of tennis's greatest ambassadors makes it doubly unpalatable.

Andre went on after that episode to regain tennis's top spot and win numerous titles - one wonders what would have happened if he'd been banned for his drug-taking. Would his career have taken off in the same way? Obviously we'll never know. Andre has since expressed his regret over the incident, but the question is: why did he feel the need to make the disclosure in the first place? What does he hope to achieve?

Marat Safin, another former world number one and grand slam winner, recently had the following to say:

He feels guilty? So let him just give back his titles, money, his grand slams! If he is so fair play, he should go all the way. You know, ATP have a bank account, he can refund if he wants to.

Safin also goes on to speculate about Andre's motives for the disclosure, suggesting that it's all about selling his book. There may well be substance to that - I've certainly not heard a more convincing reason yet. At best though, one feels that it's an ill-advised move which is unlikely to enhance Agassi's reputation. Fortunately he has a lot of moral capital to draw on, built up by years of humanitarian and charitable work.