ANDRE AGASSI FACTFILE 29 April, 1970: Born in Las Vegas, Nevada 1992: Wins first grand slam title, Wimbledon 1994: Wins first US Open< div> 1995: Wins first Australia Open 1997: Marries Brooke Shields 1999: Divorces Brooke Shields 1999: Wins first French Open 2001: Marries Steffi Graf 2001: Wins last grand slam, Australian Open 2006: Agassi retires

American Andre Agassi has admitted in his new autobiography he lied to tennis authorities about his use of crystal methamphetamine to escape a ban.

Eight-time grand slam winner Agassi, who retired in 2006, said he used the drug in 1997 with ex-assistant 'Slim'.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is said to be considering a response to Agassi's revelations.

"There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness," Agassi writes about the first time he used crystal meth.

"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table," writes Agassi in his book, which the Times is serialising.

"He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some.

"Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful - and I've never felt such energy."

Crystal meth is classified in the UK as a class A drug - the category for those considered to be the most harmful and which attract the most serious punishments and fines.

It looks like small ice crystals and is a very powerful and addictive form of the stimulant speed, which can be eaten, inhaled through the nose or injected.

Agassi, who is widely considered to be among the greatest tennis players of all time, recounts in the book, which is called 'Open', being introduced to the drug in 1997 by his one-time assistant.