McEnroe Says He Unknowingly Took Steroids From Doctors

John McEnroe says he unwittingly took steroids given to him by doctors during his playing career to deal with injuries.

McEnroe took what he thought were anti-inflammatories -- but he later learned they were steroids, his manager, Gary Swain, said.

“Twenty years ago, he was given medicine, drugs or whatever by a doctor, as were many other tennis players. There was no testing. The rules were different, the knowledge was different,” Swain said. “He found out later they were steroids. If he knew what he knows now, he wouldn’t have taken the stuff.”

In an interview with the London Daily Telegraph, McEnroe, who won seven Grand Slam singles titles, acknowledged using “a form of steroid” and called for the ATP to deal severely with players accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

“I’m not sure some of the legal prescriptions, some of the strong, anti-inflammatory drugs people are given for speeding up the healing process, are that far removed from illegal ones,” McEnroe said.

“For six years, I was unaware I was being given a form of steroid of the legal kind they used to give horses until they decided it was too strong even for horses.”