Wayne Odesnik, the American charged with smuggling a growth hormone into Australia about a year ago, recently had his suspension drastically cutback. Instead of serving the originally planned two-year suspension, Odesnik now gets away with one. ITF’s reasoning: Odesnik assisted with the “enforcement of professional rules of conduct.”
In a statement released in USA Today, Odesnik said, “I am thrilled that I can return to the game and compete in the sport about which I am truly passionate. I have learned a lot during my time away from competitive tennis and I know have even a greater appreciation for what a privilege it is to be a professional athlete. I want to take this opportunity to thank my family, true close friends and fans who have stood by me during this difficult time; I am deeply grateful and humbled by your support.”
For more information, see the San Francisco Chronicle’s recent story, here. Also, check out ESPN, here.
For Tennis Now’s take on the matter from earlier this year, view the following YouTube video.
