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13. 11. 09. - 16:00

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13. 11. 09. - 16:00

Becker says manager Ion Tiriac kept him from using drugs in tennis

Romanian Times

German tennis legend Boris Becker said he couldn't have imagined ever taking drugs in tennis because of his Romanian manager Ion Tiriac.

Becker commented on Andre Agassi's confessions in his autbiographical book "Open".

Becker said: "I was never offered drugs when I was on the tour. I didn’t hang around with those sorts of people. When I was a young player, my manager Ion Tiriac used to give me a scary look if there was even a beer on the table."

Romanian tennis legend Ilie Nastase is asking US tennis star Andre Agassi to give up all his titles because he cheated in tennis.

The move comes following Agassi's confessions in his autobiography "Open," which will be launched this week. It contains references to legendary Romanian tennis player Nastase, according to quotes from the book published by The Observer.

Agassi calls Nastase the "big, stupid Romanian", as the young Agassi had felt wounded by him.

Nastase said earlier this week in an interview in Romanian daily Gandul: "He should be the one to regret a lot of things, not only that he doped. If he didn’t like tennis, why doesn’t he renounce at all his titles? Anyway, it’s clear to me that Agassi cheated in tennis. I may have been crazy, but I was never stupid."

Agassi shocked the world by his confession in his autobiography as he admitted having used crystal meth in 1997 and lied to tennis authorities after failing a drug test.

He asked for compassion in a TV interview and said he had never played while high.

Agassi, one of the most-popular tennis players, won eight Grand Slam singles titles before retiring in 2006.

Almost half of Romanians live in poverty
Almost half of the Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data published today (Weds).

Police carry man off the snow and save his life
A man who had collapsed in freezing weather near a river, in Stoina, Gorj, southern Romania, was saved after policemen carried him for several kilometres.

New government with same eight former ministers proposed
The Romanian parliament will vote on the new government team, proposed by designated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, tomorrow (Thurs).

Forty-one dead in freezing weather
Another three persons have died due to low temperatures in the last 24 hours, the Romanian Health Ministry said today (Weds).

EC report on Justice is positive, minister says
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu currently acting prime minister until the new government is voted in by the parliament, said today (Weds) that the European Commission's interim report on progress in justice is, overall, "positive".

Pink Martini concerts in Bucharest
American orchestra Pink Martini will give a concert in Bucharest on 26 May at the Palace Hall, part of the promotional tour for their latest album "A Retrospective", local organisers Events said today (Weds).

Romania's industrial output up
Romania's industrial output increased by 15.6 per cent in 2011, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said today (Weds).

Father tried for abusing four-year-old girl
A Romanian father was sent to trial for abusing his stepdaughter, aged only 4, prosecutors said today (Weds).

Pitch in best condition for Steaua-Twente match, authorities say
The pitch for the Europa League match Steaua Bucuresti - Twente Enschede will be in optimal condition, the Bucharest town hall promises, after criticism of the National Arena turf.

More Romanian tourists travel to Austria
The number of Romanian tourists to Austria rose last year, after two years of a decline, Austria's National Tourism Office in Romania announced today (Weds).