In terms of his family and fans, I think we can all forgive a mistake (or two – because lying was probably the bigger mistake.) But the ATP was in a lose-lose situation. Sweeping Andre’s test under the rug was undoubtedly a mistake, but I’m sure we all would have believed Andre’s excuse if it had come out in a hearing. The ATP would have been the bad guy for enforcing a suspension for recreational drug use (in this case Andre said it would have been 3 months – probably because it was “out of competition.”) Maybe the ATP really did believe him! Now the organization has lost its credibility for doing what many of us would have assumed was the reasonable thing. Ouch.

It makes me think back to one of Roger’s comments about doping – no matter what, he says, no one ever admits to it.

Even I want to buy the book now, to see what else he talks about. According to The Times he also calls his father abusive and says he always hated playing tennis.

I hate the double standard for Martina.

And I totally agree that Andre didn’t need to tell this story. He may be saying that he made a mistake, but I don’t think this is the right message to send to kids — and he does have a lot of appeal to that demographic.

Clearly my comment as to ‘following around’ was not intended literally, but I still think that having to give info for your whereabouts every day (even for one hour) is very strict. Whether the official do turn up to test the players or not is not the point in my view. It’s actually pretty bad if they don’t, having introduced the rule, that should be implemented properly. Andy Murray has had a few publicly reported instances of officials turning up to test him, so if other players are never tested, are we looking at yet another case of ad hoc application of rules? Are some players singled out?

I am in complete agreement with the rest of your comments, and that’s exactly why I am so upset and think there’s something rotten in the ATP. If they let Agassi get away, who else has gotten away, and who else will?

I’m with you entirely on the point of recreational or performance-enhancing drugs.

Tennis should have confidence that the ATP enforces and applies rules fairly and consistently.

PS I think there are solid historical/track record reasons why cycling and athletics have much stricter anti-doping rules, but that’s another debate!

Now we learn that the ATP will sweep a positive test under the carpet if the player is big enough. It is not that they are testing for recreational drugs – it is the fact that they have rules and all players are not being held up to the same standard. If you are big enough player the ATP will sweep your positive test under the carpet. If they do it with recreational users, why wouldn’t they do it with PED users? If a revelation about a top player being a crystal meth user would hurt the sport think how bad a revelation that a top player is a PED user. It seems that the ATP is first an foremost a business and this kind of revelation is bad for business. Not to mention Sponsor’s business.

Upset because I was always a big fan of Andre and I strongly disapprove of drugs; on a level, I think that’s kind of his life. But I do feel that huge sports/public figures have a responsibility to be honest and set a clean example particularly for their younger fans.

My major upset comes from just how rotten the ATP is.

This is so, so unfair to all the others who did get punished – as you say, like Gasquet or worse, Martina Hingis. They gave her two years and ruined her career entirely. The rules are very clear, it is not about intention, it’s about whether the drug is there or not. Gasquet proved his tiny levels of cocaine were not due to intentional consumption, they believed him (on the record) and still gave him three months.

Why did the all-American hero boy get away with it?

How can the ATP now come all tough and follow players around every effing day of their lives (when they’re on hols too) and watch them closely as they pee into a cup?

And I still haven’t thought about how I feel about Andre being such a brazen liar, which is a much bigger deal than him having a moment of weakness and taking the damn drug.

Bleah. I’m feeling a bit sick about the whole thing.

but honestly, this double standard with tennis administrators needs to stop.

In full agreement here!