Rumor has it that a significant number of PGA Tour Pros had tested positive for drugs yet not punished. A lawyer by the name of Jeffrey Rosenblum told a court in memphis that his client Doug Barron had been singled out and used as an example while there were many other golfers who tested positive for recreational drugs like marijuana and cocaine and not punished at all.
The Guardian UK’s Lawrence Donegan wrote:
Barron, who has made $3m in prize money during his PGA Tour career, was banned for a year after testing positive this summer for beta-blockers and testosterone – both drugs prescribed by his doctors to combat medical conditions. He had sought, and had been denied, “therapeutic exemptions” to take the drugs and continue to play in tour events. “I cannot say how many positive tests there have been on the tour but from discussions I have had with my client and other people, I believe the number is significant,” Rosenblum told the Guardian last night. “I am very concerned that if the PGA Tour knew of even one person who took an illegal drug and yet chose not to punish that person, while at the same time my client was thrown out of the sport for one year. I believe that is an abuse of discretion.”
The PGA Tour’s commissioner and it’s other press staff could not be reached for comment. Tim Finchem did mention earlier in the year that they may have had some test results that trouble them but that they would not publicize them.
Barrons lawyer is expecting a ruling on his request to stay and play on tour as its how he supports his wife and kids. So this leaves me with the question should players be banned from the tour, suspended, both or put into treatment? Should regular testing be done on the Tour and is it really any of the PGA Tour’s business if a player is using non performance enhancing recreational drugs like Marijuana?
What say you? Please vote in the poll and sound off in the comments section:
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Until further notice and the law changes, recreational drug use is still against the law. So wearing blinders to law breakers is aiding and abetting and should be considered “enablers”. Watch out PGA, the Barron case could expose YOU for not following the law. Isn’t it kinda funny that using Performance Enhancing Drugs isn’t really breaking a law but can cast such a dark shadow on a person while their Police Record of being caught with illegal drugs simply goes unnoticed. The moral compass is really spinning these days.
A lot of mixed emotions here. However, it must be all for one and one for all.
In my opinion steroids should get you suspended not banned from the Tour. I also think that Barron’s doctors letter should clear things up but only after an investigator proves that the ailment is legit.
In regards to illigal drugs, It’s very rare a golfer gets any advantage from being stoned or high. I would have to consider any golfer that plays while on drugs at a disadvantage vs other players even if the drugs were done several days before play. Golf is so mental we need all the brain cells we can get.
I think golf is all about the technique and dont really see how performance enhancing drugs can help the same way it can in other sports that require more body than mind.
Just my 2 cents.
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