A tearful Xavier Malisse told an Antwerp press conference today his one-year suspension for missing a drug test mean the death knell for his career.

"It is very hard to come back," Malisse said in comments published by Reuters. "In a year's time I will be 30 and a half. I will then have to play Challengers and Futures again. That is something I can't really see myself doing. It is hard to get a one-year suspension if you never used doping."

The former Wimbledon semifinalist and fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer were hit with with one-year bans by the Flemish Doping Tribunal for failing to comply with doping regulations. Wickmayer is considering appealing.

"We are examining all different options," Wickmayer's spokesman Rudi Kuyl told an Antwerp press conference in comments published by Reuters. "This news really hit home incrediby hard."

Wickmayer and Malisse can appeal the suspensions and both are expected to file appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.  Wickmayer's doctor, Chris Goossens, said an appeal will be costly and time-consuming and her suspension will stand during the appeal process, which will sideline her for months.

Both Wickmayer and Malisse were expected to be reprimanded by the Flemish Doping Tribunal, but were suspended instead.

The Flemish regional tribunal described the punishment  as "reasonable", according to the Associated Press. Tribunal spokesman Koen Uman told the AP the suspension takes immediate effect, but Wickmayer can appeal the decision.

The World Anti-Doping Agency's whereabouts rules state athletes much inform authorities of their whereabouts between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day for a three-month period.

Wickmayer violated that rule three times in the last 18 months and Malisse broke the rule twice and missed one doping test, according to the Belga report.