I took drugs in depression: Andre Agassi

Former tennis ace Andre Agassi reveals depression led him to drugs in 1997 and seeks 'compassion instead of condemnation'

Former tennis ace Andre Agassi reveals depression led him to drugs in 1997 and seeks 'compassion instead of condemnation'

No holds barred: Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi has pleaded for compassion from critics over his taking of crystal methamphetamine, saying he "needed help" to fight depression in 1997.

CBS released excerpts from Agassi's interview in the "60 Minutes" programme last night with the entire story to be aired Sunday night regarding his admission of taking methamphetamine in an upcoming memoir as well as other aspects of his life and career.

Emotional
Agassi became emotional when interviewer Katie Couric read him the words of Martina Navratilova, who compared Agassi to Roger Clemens, a star baseball pitcher who has denied wrongdoing despite links to performance-enhancing drugs.

"It's what you don't want to hear," Agassi said. "I would hope with that would come some compassion that maybe this person doesn"t need condemnation. Maybe this person could stand a little help.

"Because that was at a time in my life when I needed help. I had a problem, and there might be many other athletes out there that test positive for recreational drugs that have a problem. So I would ask for some compassion."

The former World No 1's new book, Open, will be published next week.

Agassi said he is uncertain how the revelations will impact how he is regarded or whether he belongs in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

More to lose
"I don't know what the ramifications are," Agassi said. "I had way more to lose by telling this story in its full transparency than I had to gain.

"The price that that comes with is the cost that I've assumed and I'm OK because the part that I worry and think more about is who this may help."

Agassi, now married to retired tennis star Steffi Graf, admits in the book that he hated tennis for much of his career despite his skill, having been forced into the sport at an early age, but eventually developed a love for it.