Wayne Odesnik, who was banned from the tour after being discovered with HGH at Brisbane airport in January, has had his suspension reduced after providing the ITF with information and assistance, presumably related to revelations about his doping activity and others who may have been involved.

Odesnik will be free to return on December 29.

Under the anti-doping code, players may received reduced sanctions for providing “substantial assistance” to anti-doping authorities. A reduction of one year indicates the information was likely significant.

The ITF did not release details of what Odesnik disclosed but ITF anti-doping head Stuart Miller told USA Today that the player “provided substantial assistance on this occasion.”



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MADRID (AP)—Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1 Wednesday to square a two-match exhibition series for charity between the world’s top-ranked tennis players.

Nadal sealed the win with a powerfully angled forehand crosscourt shot in front of a capacity crowd at Caja Magica sports arena that included many of Spain’s leading dignitaries.

Nadal says Federer’s “gesture to play a game here to raise funds for needy people is incredibly generous.”

Federer responded by saying it is wonderful that Nadal supports charities “at such a young age.”

Federer beat Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Tuesday in the opening match in Zurich, Switzerland.

LONDON (AP)—American tennis player Wayne Odesnik can return to competition next week after the ITF suspended the remaining 12 months of his two-year ban for importing human growth hormone into Australia.

The International Tennis Federation said Wednesday that the ban was cut in half because Odesnik cooperated with its anti-doping program.

The ITF banned Odesnik in May for possessing HGH even though he denied using it and never tested positive for the banned substance.

The ban was backdated to start Dec. 29, 2009, so Odesnik can now compete from Dec. 29.

The ITF’s anti-doping program states that the latter part of an athlete’s ban can be suspended “where the participant has provided substantial assistance” in uncovering other offenses.

The ITF did not specify how Odesnik cooperated.

Odesnik, who was born in South Africa and moved to the United States as a child, was stopped by customs officers on Jan. 2 when he arrived in Australia ahead of the Brisbane International, a warmup for the Australian Open—the year’s first Grand Slam event.

Eight vials, each containing 6 milligrams of the performance-enhancing substance, were found in his baggage.

He pleaded guilty in March and was fined more than 8,000 Australian dollars ($7,280).

Odesnik turned pro in 2004 but has never won an ATP title, and his best ranking was 77th.

SCHWECHAT, Austria (AP)—The Austrian Tennis Federation says Austria will play France on a clay court in an aircraft hangar in the first round of the 2011 Davis Cup.

A hangar at Austria’s main airport currently being used for airplane maintenance will be transformed into a 6,000-capacity tennis stadium for the March 4-6 match.

The federation had struggled to find a site since no suitable venue in the Vienna area was available for that week.

Austrian player Jurgen Melzer says he doesn’t think airplane noise will create a disturbance. He said planes fly overhead all the time during the U.S. Open and doesn’t seem to bother the players.

France was beaten by Serbia in the Davis Cup final earlier this month. Austria has not advanced past the first round since 1995.

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Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1 Wednesday to square a two-match exhibition series for charity between the world’s top-ranked tennis players. Nadal sealed the win with a powerfully angled forehand crosscourt shot in front of a capacity crowd at Caja Magica sports arena that included many of Spain’s leading dignitaries.

The Austrian Tennis Federation says Austria will play France on a clay court in an aircraft hangar in the first round of the 2011 Davis Cup. A hangar at Austria’s main airport currently being used for airplane maintenance will be transformed into a 6,000-capacity tennis stadium for the March 4-6 match.

American tennis player Wayne Odesnik can return to competition next week after the ITF suspended the remaining 12 months of his two-year ban for importing human growth hormone into Australia. The International Tennis Federation said Wednesday that the ban was cut in half because Odesnik cooperated with its anti-doping program.

After Roger Federer‘s three-set victory over Rafael Nadal at an exhibition in Zurich, the top-ranked rivals boarded a plane for Madrid, where they will compete in a second charity match on Wednesday. (Live coverage begins at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.)

Nadal, in particular, looks thrilled. (For such a friendly guy, he sure does manage to look surly in a lot of pictures.)

Private jets, $200,000 cars, shopping in swanky Zurich boutiques, fancy European scarves; 1.3 megapixel cell phone camera. Come on, Fed, step up your game here. I’m sure Andre Agassi can point in you in the right direction for photograph purchases.

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