- LONDON: American tennis player Wayne Odesnik can return to competition next week after the ITF suspended the remaining 12 months of his two-year ban for importing human growth hormone into Australia.
The International Tennis Federation said Wednesday that the ban was cut in half because Odesnik cooperated with its anti-doping program.
The ITF banned Odesnik in May for possessing HGH even though he denied using it and never tested positive for the banned substance.
The ban was backdated to start Dec. 29, 2009, so Odesnik can now compete from Dec. 29.
The ITF's anti-doping program states that the latter part of an athlete's ban can be suspended “where the participant has provided substantial assistance” in uncovering other offenses.
The ITF did not specify how Odesnik cooperated.
Odesnik, who was born in South Africa and moved to the United States as a child, was stopped by customs officers on Jan. 2 when he arrived in Australia ahead of the Brisbane International, a warm up for the Australian Open - the year's first Grand Slam event.
Eight vials, each containing 6 milligrams of the performance-enhancing substance, were found in his baggage.
He pleaded guilty in March and was fined more than $8,000 Australian ($7,280).
Odesnik turned pro in 2004 but has never won an ATP title, and his best ranking was 77th.