While an injury to Mardy Fish opened the door for Wayne Odesnik‘s return to the ATP Tour at the Legg Mason Classic, it appears it hasn’t opened the hearts of his fellow players. Many of them would rather see Robert Kendrick back on the court this week.
Instead, Odesnik was set to play his first ATP match Wednesday after a seven-month ban following an admission that he carried human growth hormones into Australia. Kendrick, meanwhile, faces a one-year doping ban after testing positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine at the French Open in May. He said he ingested the substance when he took a diet pill, Zija, to combat jet lag, a story accepted by the International Tennis Federation.
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“To put him out for a year — and for all intents and purposes end his career — I think is pretty harsh,” James Blake said. “To go out this way I don’t think is fair especially when we got a guy playing in this tournament that I think has done a lot worse.”
The players said they understand they are responsible for anything they put in their bodies but are convinced Kendrick made a mistake.
Blake said he has written a letter in support of Kendrick’s appeal. Ryan Sweeting said he has been speaking to him every day, and John Isner claimed he could say “with 1,000 percent certainty he wasn’t trying to enhance his game in any way.”
“For a 31-year-old to take one diet pill and receive a year ban, I just don’t understand the logic behind it,” Sweeting said. “All the players know this and wonder what the hell is going on.”
Odesnik was initially banned for two years, but his punishment was eventually reduced. He has won two tournaments on the challenger circuit since May. But this week he’s the odd man out in a close-knit community that shares more than just a locker room.
“I would say he isn’t at our dinner table too often or at our card games too often,” Blake said. “I actually don’t think I’ve said a whole lot to him since he’s been back. I didn’t agree with what he did.”
