Wayne Odesnik Suspended Two Years From Tennis for Doping

The hammer has came down on Wayne Odesnik earlier today. A few months after the American first came under scrutiny for transporting HGH into Australia, the ITF has officially slapped Odesnik with a two-year suspension from tennis.

Odesnik was caught bringing in eight vials of human growth hormone (HGH) into Australian at the beginning of the year. He admitted to the vials were in his possession but Odesnik kept playing on the tour.

In their press release, the ITF said, “Mr Odesnik asserted that 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. Mr Odesnik denied ever using any of the human Growth Hormone.

“The ITF has no evidence to contradict that denial, but Mr Odesnik did not in fact obtain or apply for a therapeutic use exemption for the human Growth Hormone prior to obtaining it. Accordingly, Mr Odesnik’s possession of the human Growth Hormone is an anti-doping rule violation under Article C.6 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.”

The ban is retroactive to December 29, 2009 and will expire on December 28, 2011. Odesnik will forfeit all ranking points and prize money he earned in 2010 including his runner-up finish in Houston last month.

Odesnik is 24. He is currently ranked #114 in the ATP.