Odesnik handed 2-year ban for doping
Source: Agencies |
May 20, 2010, Thursday
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AMERICAN tennis player Wayne Odesnik was banned for two years for doping yesterday, two months after pleading guilty to importing human growth hormone into Australia.
Although Odesnik has denied using HGH and never tested positive for the banned substance, the International Tennis Federation suspended the 24-year-old American for possessing a prohibited substance "without a therapeutic use exemption."
"Mr Odesnik did not in fact obtain or apply for a therapeutic use exemption ... prior to obtaining it," the ITF said in a statement. "Accordingly, Mr Odesnik's possession of the human growth hormone is an anti-doping rule violation."
Odesnik said he bought the drug to treat a recurring injury and that he intended to apply for a therapeutic use exemption.
Odesnik was stopped by customs officers on January 2 when he arrived in Australia ahead of the Brisbane International, a warmup for the year's first grand slam event. Eight vials, each containing 6 milligrams of the performance-enhancing substance, were found in his baggage.
He pleaded guilty in March was fined more than US$7,000.
Last month, Odesnik agreed to a voluntary suspension from tennis. His ban will be backdated to start from December 29, 2009, and will end on December 28, 2011. All his results from this year will be wiped out.
Odesnik was born in South Africa and moved to the United States as a child. He turned pro in 2004 but has never won an ATP title, and his best ranking was 77th. He has reached one ATP final, on clay in Houston last year, and the highlight of his grand slam career was reaching the third round at the French Open in 2008.
Although Odesnik has denied using HGH and never tested positive for the banned substance, the International Tennis Federation suspended the 24-year-old American for possessing a prohibited substance "without a therapeutic use exemption."
"Mr Odesnik did not in fact obtain or apply for a therapeutic use exemption ... prior to obtaining it," the ITF said in a statement. "Accordingly, Mr Odesnik's possession of the human growth hormone is an anti-doping rule violation."
Odesnik said he bought the drug to treat a recurring injury and that he intended to apply for a therapeutic use exemption.
Odesnik was stopped by customs officers on January 2 when he arrived in Australia ahead of the Brisbane International, a warmup for the year's first grand slam event. Eight vials, each containing 6 milligrams of the performance-enhancing substance, were found in his baggage.
He pleaded guilty in March was fined more than US$7,000.
Last month, Odesnik agreed to a voluntary suspension from tennis. His ban will be backdated to start from December 29, 2009, and will end on December 28, 2011. All his results from this year will be wiped out.
Odesnik was born in South Africa and moved to the United States as a child. He turned pro in 2004 but has never won an ATP title, and his best ranking was 77th. He has reached one ATP final, on clay in Houston last year, and the highlight of his grand slam career was reaching the third round at the French Open in 2008.
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