Wayne Odesnik faces tennis ban for drug import

AMERICAN player Wayne Odesnik faces a ban from tennis after being fined yesterday for importing human growth hormone into Australia.

The 24-year-old Odesnik was stopped by customs officers on 2 January as he arrived in Australia for the Brisbane International and Australian Open. Eight vials, each containing six milligrams of the performance-enhancing substance, were found in his baggage.

Odesnik yesterday pleaded guilty at Brisbane Magistrates Court to importing the hormone. He was fined 8,000 Australian dollars (4,850) plus court costs.

"We are extremely disappointed in the behaviour of this individual, which is in no way representative of the sport of tennis," said an ATP statement.

Tennis Australia declined to comment, referring questions about Odesnik to the International Tennis Federation. The ITF said it had received notification that Odesnik had pleaded guilty to possession of HGH.

"The case has been referred to the tennis anti-doping programme, and we don't have any further comment," said the ITF in a statement.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Odesnik faces a possible two-year suspension for possession of a prohibited substance.

Odesnik spends part of the year training in Miami. He's coached there by former top-ten player Guillermo Canas of Argentina, who served a 15-month ban in 2005-06 after failing a doping test. Canas said he doesn't travel with Odesnik and was surprised to hear about the HGH case.