BETHESDA, Md. -- PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Wednesday not a single player has tested positive for using a performance enhancing substances since drug testing was instituted by the tour a year ago here at the AT&T National event at Congressional Country Club.
"There have been no suspensions because of doping," Finchem said at a news conference, adding that more than 1,000 tests were conducted at events over the last year, most of them random. "It's not going to surprise me if we have some issue, but I think what's clear is we do not have a doping problem. ... Knock on wood, we're very pleased at this time."
In addition to testing for anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, the tour also tests for recreational drugs.
"We may have had some test results that trouble us in other areas that we treat in a different bucket," he said. "But we don't publicize those. We treat those as conduct unbecoming. ... If we get a test like that, we will consider it conduct unbecoming, and what are our choices?
"We can suspend a player, we can fine a player, we can do both of those and put a player into treatment. We could also add to that regular testing. ... With respect to conduct unbecoming, we don't announce that. With respect to performance enhancing, we would be announcing that."
Finchem initially had been reluctant to implement a drug testing plan because he never felt performance enhancing drugs were a problem in his sport and that golfers were above cheating to gain an advantage. He said the results of the first year of testing confirmed his initial misgivings.
"PGA players are used to and grew up with the concept that you play by the rules," he said. "It is anathema to a player that you would not play by the rules. ... At this point, not only do the players accept the rule, they put it on the same level as any other rule of golf. They work hard to understand what they need to be doing. They stay updated, and we've avoided problems."
Tour veteran Jim Furyk said he was "not surprised" none of his playing peers have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs because, "I didn't think we had an issue when we started."
He said he'd been tested at least three times during the last year, and the only problem with the program was that some players were initially unable to provide urine samples after they completed their rounds and were told they were being tested.
"I guess it's kind of humorous that some guys have had a hard time producing a sample," he said. "Guys have said 'I couldn't go, it took me two hours,' or guys have said, 'There were five people in front of me, so it took a long time.' But I haven't heard anyone really complaining other than the amount of time it takes."
Leonard Shapiro can be reached at Badgerlen@aol.com
