The US’ Andy Roddick was outspoken in his condemnation of Wayne Odesnik on Friday after Odesnik pleaded guilty in Australia to importing performance-enhancing human growth hormone.
“There’s nothing worse than that,” Roddick said at the Masters 1000 event in Miami. “That’s just plain cheating, and they should throw him out of tennis. There’s just no room for it.”
Odesnik, 24, who is ranked 98th, was stopped by customs officers at Brisbane airport on Jan. 2 as he arrived to play in the Brisbane International and Australian Open tournaments.
A search of his luggage revealed eight vials, each containing 6mg of the banned HGH drug, reports said.
Odesnik pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday to importing the hormone and was fined A$8,000 (US$7,290) and ordered to pay A$1,142 in costs.
Odesnik’s case is expected to be referred to the International Tennis Federation.
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