The PGA Tour’s Anti-Doping Policy is back in the news this week after Vijay Singh admitted in a Sports Illustrated story that he is currently using a banned substance.
The Golf Channel Research Unit developed a timeline of events related to the Tour’s drug testing, which began in 2008.
March 22, 2006: PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem says there is ‘no reason to jump into the testing arena’
Aug. 23, 2006: Finchem says using PEDs is same thing as ‘kicking your ball in the rough’
Aug. 25, 2006: Tiger Woods says Tour must be ‘proactive instead of reactive’ when it comes to testing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501184.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501184.html Sept. 6, 2006: Finchem says they will make recommendations to the board about testing
Oct. 29, 2006: European Tour chief executive George O’Grady says there will be a policy ‘in the near future’
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=39943
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=39943 Nov. 15, 2006: LPGA announces a drug policy that will begin in 2008http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/sports/golf/16golf.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/sports/golf/16golf.html May 27, 2007: O’Grady says he wants to see ‘the world of golf united on this drug policy’
June 20, 2007: Finchem says ‘we’re getting close’ to having a rule on performance-enhancing drugs
Sept. 20, 2007: The World Golf Federation announces an anti-doping policyhttp://www.asapsports.com/show_conference.php?id=45637
http://www.asapsports.com/show_conference.php?id=45637 Nov. 13, 2007: The PGA Tour announces that testing will begin in July 2008, with plans to begin testing on the Web.com Tour at the end of 2008 and on the Champions Tour in mid-2009http://www.golf.com/ap-news/drug-testing-arrive-tour-next-summer
http://www.golf.com/ap-news/drug-testing-arrive-tour-next-summer Feb. 14, 2008: The LPGA begins a “trial run” of drug testing at the Fields Open: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3269420
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3269420 May 17, 2008: LPGA resumes drug testing after changing drug-test administratorshttp://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2008-05/gw20080523sirakdrug
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2008-05/gw20080523sirakdrug July 1, 2008: PGA Tour begins drug testing at the AT&T National, European Tour at the European Openhttp://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2008/0702/1214949300518.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2008/0702/1214949300518.html Nov. 3, 2009: PGA Tour player Doug Barron suspended for one year after testing positive for supplemental testosterone and a beta-blockerhttp://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/barron-faces-uncertain-future-after-being-denied-chance-play-q-school
http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/barron-faces-uncertain-future-after-being-denied-chance-play-q-school Aug. 11, 2011: PGA Tour issues warning to players to stop using a deer antler spray called “The Ultimate Spray” because of the presence of IGF-1, which is a banned substance
Jan. 29, 2013: Sports Illustrated releases an article on the use of deer-antler spray and includes quotes from Hall of Famer Vijay Singh, starting his own use of the sprayhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130129/the-strange-lab-that-lured-numerous-athletes/?sct=hp_t13_a2&eref=sihp