Wayne Odesnik has pulled the plug on his controversial career after being hit with a 15-year doping ban.
The 29-year-old Odesnik announced his retirement today after the International Tennis Federation and United States Anti-Doping Agency jointly announced Odesnik was hit with a 15-year doping ban for a second doping violation.
Odesnik tested positive for the steroid methenolone and androst and growth hormone in out-of-competition testing last December.
The 267th-ranked Odesnik, who denied he had taken HGH during his first drug suspension from 2010 to 2011, also denied cheating this time.
"In December 2014, I unknowingly ingested a contaminated over-the-counter supplement. Upon learning of my positive test results I was immediately heartbroken as words could not describe my shock and disappointment," Odesnik said in a statement today. "Being the most tested American tennis player on the tour, I would never knowingly have taken any chance of consuming a banned substance. The contaminated product is currently with an independent accredited testing laboratory in California for further testing at my own expense, and I am currently considering my legal options.”
Needless to say, Odesnik's former colleagues on the ATP Tour aren't planning to throw a retirement party any time soon.
It is the second doping ban for the 29-year-old Odesnik, who was found guilty of importing eight vials of Human Growth Hormone into Australia in January, 2010. Odesnik, who denied he used HGH, was banned from the tour from April, 2010 to August, 2011.
The two-time offender's departure has not elicited too much sympathy or surprise from fellow players.
"Unfortunate for him, but, you know, second violation," Jack Sock told the media in Indian Wells after his loss to Roger Federer. "I mean, we have rules in this sport, and if you're not going to obey them or abide by them, you've got to pay the consequence. It's sad, of course. Yeah, he's an American. But, you know, it kind of is what it is. And if you're going to do it not only once but twice,then you have to pay the price."
When the first suspension was announced, some American players blasted Odesnik for casting a "stigma" on his compatriots.
"[If it's true] that's just plain cheating and they should throw him out of tennis," Andy Roddick said after Odesnik's positive test in 2010. "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.
"To have it be one of our guys, 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."
Despite testing positive for drugs twice in his career, Odesnik never won an ATP title and never cracked the Top 50. The 2009 Houston finalist reached a career-high rank of No. 77 in 2009. Odesnik was born in South Africa, but moved to the United States at the age of three. He has been living and training in Florida.