Robert Kendrick, the Fresno native who was banned from the ATP Tour for a year after testing positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine at Roland Garros, says he plans to appeal the 12-month sanction issued by the International Tennis Federation.
According to the ITF, Kendrick, 31, can’t return to the courts until May 22, 2012 despite accepting the American’s claim that he took the stimulant to ward off jetlag, not as a performance enhancer. Kendrick is being represented by the law firms Preti Flaherty and Hodgson Russ. Brent Nowicki, a co-counsel along with Paul Greene, said, “Justice has not been served by the ITF’s decision. Mr. Kendrick unknowingly ingested a banned substance known as methylhexanamine. Kendrick took a Zija XM3 capsule to assist with jetlag, without knowing that it contained a banned substance. The product claimed to be ‘approved by the World Anti-Doping Association.'”
Greene added, “This decision will be immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This is not a case where Mr. Kendrick ingested the supplement to enhance his athletic performance. The ITF’s decision is not supported by the facts of Mr. Kendrick’s case whatsoever.”
John McEnroe, Tom Gullikson, John Isner, Robby Ginepri, James Blake, Amer Delic, Bobby Reynolds and Michael Russell have all rallied behind Kendrick’s case. Both Nowicki and Greene are hopeful that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear and decide Kendrick’s appeal in time for him to play the upcoming U.S. Open.
