In an excerpt from upcoming book, Andre Agassi says he took what he believes to be speed

Agassi says he took what he believes to be speed

LONDON — Andre Agassi says in an excerpt from his soon-to-be-released autobiography that he swallowed a pill given to him by his father — apparently when he was a junior player — that he believes could have been the illegal drug speed.

In the latest passage revealed from the book “Open,” which was published Thursday in the German newspaper Bild, the eight-time Grand Slam champion says his father gave him an unidentified little white pill and he took it.

“I swallow it and I feel good. Not much different. A bit more alert,” Agassi wrote in comments translated from German, adding his brother Phillip had warned him against taking anything from their father because it was the amphetamine speed.

“‘Next time you go to the nationals and Paps gives you pills, don’t take them,’” Agassi quotes his brother as saying. “As Philly predicted, at the national tournament in Chicago, my father gave me a pill.”

It is unclear to which tournament Agassi is referring. But he did win the 1985 national boys 16 doubles championship title with John Falbo in Kalamazoo, Mich., about 100 miles from Chicago, when he was 15.

In excerpts published Wednesday, Agassi said he ingested crystal meth in 1997 and then lied to the governing body of men’s tennis to avoid a suspension after failing a doping test.

Although tennis and doping authorities initially expressed disappointment when Agassi admitted to using crystal meth, they also said it was too late to take any sanctions against the career Grand Slam title holder for using it because of an eight-year limitation rule.

David Howman, the director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said Sunday he wonders if Agassi is still beyond the reach of possible punishment for lying about his crystal meth use.

“If somebody lies under oath, then that could amount to perjury,” Howman told The Associated Press. “There ought to be an investigation to see if it does amount to perjury.”