NEW YORK (AP) — An American tennis player who served a 12-month ban after getting caught with human growth hormone has earned a wild card into the U.S. Open.
Wayne Odesnik, a 28-year-old based in Florida and ranked 168th, hasn’t played in the U.S. Open’s main draw since 2009. He got a spot from the U.S. Tennis Association for this year’s tournament based on results at USTA Pro Circuit events.
Odesnik was off the tour from April 2010 to August 2011 after pleading guilty in an Australian court to importing HGH into that country in January 2010. Odesnik has denied using HGH; he never tested positive.
The International Tennis Federation originally banned him for two years. The ITF later cut that in half, saying Odesnik cooperated with its investigators.
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