Golf Anti-Doping Test Has Been Delayed
By: Cindy Ferguson
The head of anti-doping has agreed with the Open’s organization in delaying the introduction of drug tests, but that does not mean they are off the hook, they still want the sport of golf to continue to apply policies on their own.
The R&A, the Golf governing body outside of the US and Mexico was forced to make arrangements to check every player this player as many have played in tournaments that have no drug policies. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) agreed on the R&A’s decision but did advise the sport about smugness.
WADA has criticized the sport for its lack of interest regarding the matter but added sympathy in their decision to agree with the R&A. According to the WADA, no sport is invulnerable to doping and the anti-doping procedures are necessary to guard the sports honesty.
For WADA it would be best for the golf players if all tours were guided by the same rules and regulations using the same prohibited lists and the same education activities. The R&A planned to have the 2008 Open as their first main event to have drug tests taken but unfortunately it was obligated to postpone the measures until 2009.
Drug testing on the PGA and European Tours, the world’s richest golf circuits will start to take place in July. Nonetheless, the Asian, Australian and South African tours have not come to an agreement of as to when they will start testing.
Although WADA stated it is a shame the testing has been delayed they did acknowledge the need for players to alert themselves in regards to the hazards and penalties of doping as well as its rules.
The R&A brought into affect restricted testing at the World Amateur Team Championships in 2006 but it was obliged to manage discomforting headlines during last year's Open when Gary Player alleged the sport had a doping dilemma and stated he knew for a fact that some golfers were indeed doing drugs but did not give out any names and only mentioned he was aware of least ten and suspected there were many more.
The South African legend's accusations were prearranged as an undersized shrift by players and administrators but they obviously pushed the issue to a next level as a to do list. Not too long after that the formerly indisposed PGA Tour agreed that it would be set up obligatory drugs tests this coming year.
The American circuit's postponed approval of the need to start testing has not yet been taken into consideration nor has it been commonly welcomed.
At this time one of WADA’s concerns is the PGA Tour has not enrolled in its globally-recognized list of forbidden substances and some of the tour's members have responded irritably to the outlook of testers showing up on their door step without prior notice.
However, since golf is currently one of the seven sports being well thought-out for addition into the 2016 Olympic Games, the sport may just have to accept the WADA endorsed program as athletes, cyclists and swimmers did agree to as habitual.
About the author
Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer for Golf Championships and the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.