Agassi To Skip Sydney Games

Defending gold medalist Andre Agassi, his mother and sister both fighting breast cancer, pulled out of the Sydney Olympics on Wednesday.

Agassi, who has said all year the Olympics are among his top priorities, cited "personal reasons" for quitting the team a little more than a week before the opening ceremony.

"As a consequence of a family medical situation, I will not be able to participate in the upcoming Sydney Olympics," Agassi said in a statement released by the U.S. Tennis Association. "My time and attention should be with my family during this period."

USTA president Judy Levering said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Andre during this very difficult time. We wish him and his family all the best, and look forward to having him return to tennis when he is ready."

No replacement was immediately announced. Agassi's spot would be offered first to the players who previously turned down an invitation, Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras and Jan-Michael Gambill. If they decline, the next highest ranking player who would be asked to join the team is Chris Woodruff.

The 30-year-old Agassi has had a difficult summer. As defending U.S. Open champion, he lost in the second round. He also lost in the second round at the French Open, where he was defending champion. At Wimbledon, he lost to Patrick Rafter in the semifinals, then injured his back in a traffic accident after returning to the United States.

Gustavo Kuerten, who was seeded No. 2 behind Agassi at the U.S. Open and lost in the first round, also announced he was quitting Brazil's Olympic team following a dispute over whose uniform he would wear at the Sydney Games.

Brazil's Olympic committee insisted Kuerten wear a uniform provided by the team's sponsor Brazilian sportswear manufacturer Olympikus. But the player's sponsor, Italian sportswear manufacturer Diadora, insisted Kuerten use their uniform at the games.

Negotiations reportedly broke down after Diadora agreed to let Kuerten play in another uniform, but refused to let him sport the Olympikus trademark.

"I'm very sad to have had to make this decision. It was my dream to play in the Olympics and defend Brazil, but I cannot dishonor my sponsor who supported me since the beginning of my career and believed in me when no one knew who I was," Kuerten was quoted by O Globo newspaper.

Although, Brazil's soccer team and track and feld athletes are allowed to wear uniforms provided by separate sponsors, the Brazilian Olympic Committee refused to make an exception for Kuerten, known here as Guga.

"I am revolted and indignant that Guga will not go to the Olympics because of pressure from a uniform supplier. I'm sorry to see a player bend to a foreign company. I worry in the future athletes will become slaves to sports trademarks," Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Arthur Nuzman told the O Globo newspaper.

Nuzman said the soccer team and the track and field athletes had alerted the committee as far back as April of their intention to use their own sponsors' uniform, but Kuerten informed them there was a problem in June.

Kuerten's doubles partner, Jaime Oncins, also dropped off the team with the announcement Kuerten had left.

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