Golf News - Drug Scheme Introduction by European Tour

The European Tour has announced that its drug-testing scheme is to come into effect during this week’s European Open being held at the London Club. Though they have laid out the programme that is to be enforced, David Garland, the Tour Director of Operations was vague as to the timing of the testing, commenting that it may happen any time over the coming weeks. The secrecy is due to the credibility of the testing relying on the players not knowing ahead of time.

The plan is to start with only a few of the tournaments this year and develop the procedure for next year. The introduction of the testing has come as a response to the pressure to have Golf regulations fall in line with other major sports. This also strengthens the proposition of golf as an Olympic sport. It is also meant to increase the chances for golf becoming an Olympic sport.

The necessity of testing grew last year as focus was cast on golf as one of only 9 sports not to test for performance enhancing substances. It was highlighted further in the wake of Gary player, the nine times major winner, claiming that unidentified were being used by some within the game.

The women's LPGA Tour was the first to announce their commitment to the plans in November last year. Their intentions to begin testing in the first quarter of this year announced plans last November to start drug testing players in the first quarter of 2008 whereas the US PGA Tour have said they are prepared to instigate the agenda as early as this month.

The list of banned substances has been scripted by the European team to reflect that of the World Anti-Doping Agency, doctors will also be placed at a variety of tournaments with advice and information as to the reasons certain substances are prohibited.

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Sports PLC - 2008 - Golf News

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