Golfers - 8 failed drug tests in 2014

[Slab]

Don't recall reading too much about this at the time

I know the preference is to withhold player names etc & maybe shouldn't be surprised by numbers that BBC report today (as part of the Rory/drug story) that only 507 tests done on players in 2014 and 8 were positive

Could be anything from an ingredient in an over the counter medication to finding a new use for the grooves on your lob wedge, so clearly there's nowhere near enough information for us to be outraged of course but I for one am outraged!

Nah it would be naive to think golf alone is a clean sport, in fact the only thing I do have an interest in is the secrecy afforded to those failing tests but on the other hand I think if you tested everyone who turns up for this weeks medal at your club I highly doubt you'd see a clean set of results

 

[Deleted member 18645]

I still remember when Gary "I've got a book to plug" Player went off about 11 players failing drug tests and then could not name a single one.

Unless this story is Dustin Johnson on eight separate occasions

 

[Hosel Fade]

Don't recall reading too much about this at the time

I know the preference is to withhold player names etc & maybe shouldn't be surprised by numbers that BBC report today (as part of the Rory/drug story) that only 507 tests done on players in 2014 and 8 were positive

Could be anything from an ingredient in an over the counter medication to finding a new use for the grooves on your lob wedge, so clearly there's nowhere near enough information for us to be outraged of course but I for one am outraged!

Nah it would be naive to think golf alone is a clean sport, in fact the only thing I do have an interest in is the secrecy afforded to those failing tests but on the other hand I think if you tested everyone who turns up for this weeks medal at your club I highly doubt you'd see a clean set of results

You definitely wouldn't depending on which list they are using. 3 cups of coffee can be enough to test positive if you drink them close enough to the test, let alone everyone that is on various anti-inflammatories which would be my guess as to what people on tour are likely to have tested positive for

 

[delc]

You definitely wouldn't depending on which list they are using. 3 cups of coffee can be enough to test positive if you drink them close enough to the test, let alone everyone that is on various anti-inflammatories which would be my guess as to what people on tour are likely to have tested positive for

I hope the competitors in our Seniors section never get drug tested, because most of us are on medication for something!

For Tour players I would think that muscle building drugs and anti-inflammatories are the most likely. Can't think of any other substances that are likely to be performance enhancing for golf.

 

[bluewolf]

I hope the competitors in our Seniors section never get drug tested, because most of us are on medication for something!

For Tour players I would think that muscle building drugs and anti-inflammatories are the most likely. Can't think of any other substances that are likely to be performance enhancing for golf.

I'd argue that if you took a sample from every pro golfer on tour you'd get a healthy percentage of Beta blockers and recreational drug results... It would be remarkably naive to think otherwise...

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Didn't Rory say yesterday they only get urine tested and some drugs only show up in blood.

Sadly don't believe any sport is 100% clean.

 

[pokerjoke]

You mean only 8 got caught.

 

[delc]

I'd argue that if you took a sample from every pro golfer on tour you'd get a healthy percentage of Beta blockers and recreational drug results... It would be remarkably naive to think otherwise...

I'm on an Alpha blocker and blood pressure tablets, but they don't seem to help my golf! :mmm:

 

[Hosel Fade]

I hope the competitors in our Seniors section never get drug tested, because most of us are on medication for something!

For Tour players I would think that muscle building drugs and anti-inflammatories are the most likely. Can't think of any other substances that are likely to be performance enhancing for golf.

From experience with mates who are in these testing pools (swimmers) its an extremely complicated thing even with the sort of infrastructures they have that are experienced in dealing with the doping rules.

For the simplest things you have to double and triple check, eg if you have a cold and go down to Boots for some Lemsips or whatever you have to make sure there is no Ibuprofen in there as that is on the list

 

[Val]

I'd argue that if you took a sample from every pro golfer on tour you'd get a healthy percentage of Beta blockers and recreational drug results... It would be remarkably naive to think otherwise...

I dont think they'll be on beta blockers, they are 100% banned and will be one of those closely monitored.

 

[patricks148]

Any one any idea's what drugs you could take to help your golf???

i imagine steroids to aid injury recovery or recreational drugs, but not sure any of those would aid play.

Also what about giving all the slow players a wee dab of speed, might get them round in less than 5 hours

 

[Val]

Any one any idea's what drugs you could take to help your golf???

i imagine steroids to aid injury recovery or recreational drugs, but not sure any of those would aid play.

Also what about giving all the slow players a wee dab of speed, might get them round in less than 5 hours

Beta blockers are calming therefore would help nerves and potentially the yips.

 

[Capella]

I somehow doubt that there are many drugs about which would actually help a golfer. It might be possible to boost muscle power for example, but at the same time, that could have negative effects on your putting. It would be interesting to see, which substances have been found in the 8 positive cases. I suspect it is either medications (like the already mentioned Ibuprofen, which is really very common in pretty much every cold medicine etc.) or recreational drugs (yeah, I know, they are professional athletes and should be role models etc ... but they are also mostly young people who might go to the occasional party). And for me, I see a big moral difference between consciece doping to gain an advantage and a more "accidental" use of a substance which happens to be banned. I really don't see golf in any danger of a huge doping problem like it exists in sports like cycling or track&field or the like.

 

[patricks148]

Beta blockers are calming therefore would help nerves and potentially the yips.

Ah, what poor old Bill Werberneck had to take after he wasn't allowed 10 pints of larger before a game

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Have you seen the muscles on golfers now? Drugs to improve strength, get that extra 10yds off the tee. Drugs to improve endurance, no tiring down 17 and 18. Drugs to calm the nerves on pressure moments. Drugs, drugs drugs. All the talk from cycling about lots of small improvements giving you an edge.............

Golf needs to get its house in order.

 

[freddielong]

Any drug that helps get over muscle fatigue and helps you train harder will help golf.

Also i remember playing a golf whilst having issues with with my back and I was on slow release tramadol at the time its amazing how calm and relaxed it kept me.

Never played competitively with it though.

 

[Dan2501]

Golf needs USADA. They've had a HUGE impact in MMA. Guys who were juiced to the gills and getting away with it were just getting away with it and since USADA have come in with their random drugs testing the sport is a level playing field again, and the differences in some guys physiques is unbelievable (Overeem and Belfort the main ones). I'd love to see it in golf and in all sports. Stringent drug testing, strict penalties and a clear deterrent for the cheats. Even when/if guys test positive in Golf now it's covered up and we don't find out specifics and there's no real punishment.

 

[Hosel Fade]

Golf needs USADA. They've had a HUGE impact in MMA. Guys who were juiced to the gills and getting away with it were just getting away with it and since USADA have come in with their random drugs testing the sport is a level playing field again, and the differences in some guys physiques is unbelievable (Overeem and Belfort the main ones). I'd love to see it in golf and in all sports. Stringent drug testing, strict penalties and a clear deterrent for the cheats. Even when/if guys test positive in Golf now it's covered up and we don't find out specifics and there's no real punishment.

Really interesting with Chael Sonnen on the Rogan and Fighter & The Kid podcasts in the past couple days post Jones that.

 

[Dan2501]

Was a great podcast. The USADA stuff has really improved since they started with Chael and Wanderlei (Chael's story about his first experience of random drug testing was crazy). Has completely transformed the sport.

 

[LCW]

Its maddening to hear players stating issues like not being able to use a certain effective nasel spray for hey-fever as its a banned substance that cyclists use to keep their airways open and clear. It must be a mine field and no wonder people get done for incidental things.

I do agree they should have a strict policy and introduce the USADA.