Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 20, 1994 TAG: 9405230114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
A representative for Capriati confirmed Thursday the 18-year-old tennis star entered a treatment program at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.
``She's optimistic. She's very cooperative with respect to the program she's in,'' Capriati's attorney, John Ross, told WPLG-TV in an exclusive interview. ``I'm hopeful and fairly confident that Jennifer will come through this, that her judgment will improve. If my predictions are correct, whatever Jennifer decides to do, she will be a champion at it. She's a good kid.''
For the first time, a Capriati spokesman challenged allegations she used heroin and crack cocaine during a two-day motel room party preceding her arrest Monday for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
``This is coming from a crack head,'' Ross said of the allegations. ``Examine the source and make a responsible decision as to whether or not you think it's credible.''
One of the two people arrested with Capriati, a 20-year-old drifter named Tom Wineland, alleged in an interview that Capriati used crack during the party. Wineland's attorney said he was told she was ``whacked out on heroin.''
Police said they had no evidence Capriati used heroin or cocaine.
Ross scrapped plans for a news conference Thursday and did not return phone calls from The Associated Press.
Capriati's arrest prompted the cancellation of her multimillion-dollar endorsement contracts with Prince, a tennis racket company, and Diadora, a sportswear company. In Italy, an official for Diadora said the drug charge ``offends the image'' his company was seeking.
Capriati's agent, Barbara Perry, flew to South Florida to join her client's family. Capriati's parents have visited her at the hospital, Perry said.
``They're very much together and behind their daughter,'' Perry said. ``Under the circumstances I think they're doing very well. They're very strong. They've been through a lot.''
The Mount Sinai rehabilitation program, which opened in 1984, has 30 beds in semiprivate rooms. The 707-bed waterfront hospital offers outpatient and inpatient programs, with treatment lasting up to four weeks or longer.
The programs include psychological testing; group, family and individual counseling; and creative activities such as yoga.
Capriati left the Women's Tennis Association tour in the summer of 1993.
by CNB