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By Richard Pagliaro
Photo Credit: Mark Howard


(May 19, 2010) A bag check will cost Wayne Odesnik two years of his career.

The 24-year-old Odesnik admits he tried to import Human Growth Hormone into Australia in January. Odesnik was found guilty of possessing eight vials containing 6 mg of HGH and has been suspended from professional tennis for two years, the International Tennis Federation announced today.

Odesnik will eligible to return to tournament tennis on December 29th, 2011.


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In addition to the two-year ban, all of Odesnik’s results in competitions played since  December 29th, 2009 are disqualified, with Odesnik forfeiting all prize money and ranking points he's earned since then.

"I think it was pretty clear cut that was what the penalty was going to be," Hall of Famer John McEnroe told Tennis Now moments after the decision was announced. "I am not surprised at all. I am sure they are looking to send a message. Odesnik is not a high-ranked player and everyone is hoping that's not a problem with the guys ranked higher up. I know that tennis players are tested more than any athletes. Having said that, I don't believe they are being tested for that particular drug."

The 114th-ranked Odesnik claimed he had purchased the Human Growth Hormone on professional advice to treat a recurring injury, and that he intended to apply for a therapeutic use exemption prior to using it. Odesnik, who was born in South Africa and resides in Weston, Florida, denied ever using any of the Human Growth Hormone.

Since Odesnik did not in fact obtain or apply for a therapeutic use exemption for the Human Growth Hormone prior to obtaining it, the ITF ruled his possession of the Human Growth Hormone is an anti-doping rule violation under Article C.6 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program.

Odesnik's claim that he had HGH in his luggage when he was stopped at the airport in Australia, but did not actually use it drew derisive criticism from fellow Americans Andy Roddick and Sam Querrey, who both said Odesnik deserved to be banned if found guilty.

"If he pleaded guilty, there's nothing worse than that. I'm normally the one to give people the benefit of the doubt," Roddick said. "If that's the case, that's just plain cheating and they should throw him out of tennis. There's just no room for it. I was shocked.  I was surprised.  You know, we don't need stories like that.  You know, I know that's the minority.  If that's the case, I have zero sympathy."

The Tennis Now news crew was on site at last month's US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston and the normally easy going Querrey was clearly angry by the fact that Odesnik was still playing after pleading guilty to HGH possession in a Brisbane court in January. Odesnik pleaded guilty to importing HGH in the Brisbane Magistrates Court and was fined $8,000 and ordered to pay $1,142.80 in costs.

"I want to play him. I would refuse to lose to that guy," said Querrey before beating Odesnik in the semifinals in a contentious clash that offered stare-down and commentary from both players.


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Another top 50 player told us in Houston: "It's joke that he's still playing. He's going to lose all of the money and points anyway, so what's the point?"

Odesnik will only be 26 when the suspension concludes so it's entirely possible he could resume his playing career.

The larger point is: since urine tests do not detect HGH how can tennis be certain higher-ranked players aren't using HGH now?

The fact that Odesnik's case may taint more players in the court of public perception has annoyed some prominent Americans, who assert Odesnik's case can unfairly cast suspicion on players who are clean.

Simply put, Roddick says Odesnik's action and the stigma it creates "pisses me off."

Roddick said he knows Odesnik though they have not spent much time together, but is incensed by the "stigma" Odesnik's case casts on American players.

"I know Wayne a little bit.  I mean, I wouldn't say we're friends.  He used to train in Austin sometimes.  You know, I don't think we ever really did much together," Roddick said during his run to the Sony Ericsson Open title last month. "But it's just normally when this has happened in tennis it's been someone that is like I don't really know at all.  To have it be one of our guys and for us to lose a guy in the top 100, it makes me a little angry, you know. I don't want that stigma attached to our country and to our players, so it really pisses me off."

Roddick asserted tennis has one of the strongest anti-doping policies in sport and said he believes the sport has taken significant steps to eliminate doping.

"We're up there with the Olympics.  We can't take Sudafed because something will come up.  We have to be accountable for where we are," Roddick said.  "I have to send in my forms next week to tell people where I'm gonna be for the next month every single day. If my wife and I want to drive for a day trip somewhere, I have to call in and say, ' We're going here, here, and here' and provide an address. So I hope with the articles that they will at least acknowledge that.  The ATP and the powers that be in tennis have done every single thing possible, you know, with the exception of assigning a person to follow each person around 24 hours a day and sleep with the person, to mitigate these problems."



 

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