Rafael Nadal took the ATP to task for its role in allegedly covering up Andre Agassi's positive test for crystal meth in 1997 and raised questions over why Agassi is coming clean now.
In his new book, "Open", Agassi admits he used crystal meth and claims he failed a drug test, lied to the ATP about how the drug entered his system and alleges the ATP covered it up by discarding his positive test.
The second-ranked Nadal said if the allegations are true, then the ATP's actions are "dreadful."
"If the ATP covered for Agassi at the time, then I think that’s dreadful," Nadal told the media in Madrid yesterday. "The only thing I can say is that if they covered at that moment for the player and punished others for doing the same kind of thing, then that would seem to me to be a lack of respect for all sportsmen."
Nadal suggested Agassi's admission is "damaging" to the sport.
"To me it seems terrible," Nadal said on Thursday. "Why is he saying this now that he has retired? It's a way of damaging the sport that makes no sense. I believe our sport is clean and I am the first one that wants that. Cheaters must be punished and if Agassi was a cheater during his career he should have been punished."
The four-time French Open champion's words came after World No. 1 Roger Federer expressed shock over Agassi's drug admission.
"It was a shock when I heard the news," Federer said at a press conference on Thursday. "I am disappointed and I hope there are no more such cases in future."
Federer, who beat Agassi in the 2005 US Open, said Agassi's contributions far outweigh his errors in judgement.
"(Agassi) has done a lot for tennis, both as a player and as a human being," Federer said. "Today, he raises millions of dollars for his foundation for disadvantaged children."
Andy Roddick, a former Agassi practice partner and Davis Cup teammate on the 2005 American team that was upset by Croatia, 3-2, in Carson, California, expressed support for Agassi in a Twitter post. Calling Agassi his "idol", Roddick said Agassi's commitment to educational and charitable causes have "changed the world for the better."
"Andre is and always will be my idol. I will judge him on how he has treated me and how he has changed the world for (the) better," Roddick wrote. "To be fair, when Andre wrote the reported letter, he was well outside the top 100 and widely viewed as on the way out."
