Journeyman American player Wayne Odesnik received one of the longest bans in tennis history Wednesday, a 15-year suspension for a second doping offence in five years.
The ban ends the ATP Tour career of the 29-year-old Odesnik, who is ranked 267th in the world.
He tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs after he was given an out-of-competition test in December. The International Tennis Federation sent urine samples to several labs where they tested positive for anabolic steroids.
"Those samples were sent to WADA-accredited laboratories in Salt Lake City, USA and Montreal, Canada for analysis, and were found to contain one or more of: metabolites of methenolone; metabolites of androst," the ITF said in a joint news release with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
The South African-born Odesnik was also suspended in 2010 for two years for possession of human growth hormone. That was later reduced to one year after he co-operated with the ITF's anti-doping programme.
Odesnik released a statement on Wednesday, announcing his retirement. He said he didn't realize that an over-the-counter supplement he took included a banned substance.
"Upon learning of my positive test results I was immediately heartbroken as words could not describe my shock and disappointment," he added.
"Being the most tested American tennis player on tour, I would never knowingly have taken any chance of consuming a banned substance," he said.
Besides the suspension, Odesnik will have to forfeit any prize money from three tournaments, comprising the Australian Open and two lower level Challenger series events.
"Mr Odesnik's commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme was confirmed, which was his second such violation, having been sanctioned in 2010 for the possession of human growth hormone," the news release said.
"It was, therefore, determined that he is suspended from participation for a period of 15 years .... so ending at midnight on 29 January 2030."
World number four Andy Murray said Wednesday that as a repeat offender, Odesnik got what he deserved.
- 'Bye bye Wayne' -
"Bye bye Wayne... Good riddance," Murray wrote on Twitter when the suspension was announced.
Murray said after his 6-3, 6-3 win Wednesday over Adrian Mannarino in the Indian Wells tournament, that he doesn't believe Odesnik's version of the events.
"So he clearly was taking something and trying to get an advantage," Murray told reporters.
"After what happened the last time, you know, whatever story you believe, the one that was given, I don't believe at all.
"I think it's good for tennis to get him off the tour and away from the tour, because we don't want that being part of the tour.
"It looks bad on everyone else."
Murray said he has been subjected to numerous random tests over the past year.
"I'm getting tested a lot more than what I was, many out of competition blood tests from the ITF and also the UK anti-doping, as well.
"It's an inconvenience getting woken up at 6:30 in the morning, but if it gets people that are cheating out of the sport, then I'm all for that."
Odesnik was born in Johannesburg but moved to the United States when he was three. He began playing tennis aged seven and turned pro in 2004.
He was won over $1 million in his career but never won an ATP Tour singles title.
Source: AFP