Ok so as everybody knows recently American player Wayne Odesnik pleaded guility last week to importing eight vials of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to Australia before a tournament in January. This has earned him scoldings publicly from the likes of
Andy Roddick,
James Blake, and many others for his actions.
So the million dollar question I have for all of you today is: if Odesnik knows he's guilty, and we as fans all know he's guilty...why's he being allowed to play at the US Clay Court Championships in Houston this week?
Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated interviewed a member of the ITF to get some answers and they said:
"Wayne Odesnik is entitled to due process under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, just as you and I are entitled to this protection under our legal systems. He has not as yet been found guilty of a doping offense under the rules of the TADP and therefore is allowed to play. In order not to prejudice the player's ability to defend himself in his criminal case, the TADP decided to await the outcome of those proceedings rather than run concurrently, but began the process immediately once the decision of the Australian Court was taken. The player is entitled to put forward a defense and this can take some time and he has elected not to take a provisional suspension."
What's this sound like in my opinion? The ITF is pretty much hiding behind the lousy excuse of rules they created.
I think he should be suspended, and if that does happen he'd have to forefit all the prize money and ranking points he's earned while playing while this investigation is ongoing.
What's on your mind?
Post a comment below.
Current rating: 0 (0 ratings)