Barron first golfer to face drug ban

Golf suffered a mild embarrassment after the PGA Tour suspended Doug Barron for violating the tour’s anti-doping policy on the use of performance-enhancing substances.

Barron becomes the first golfer to face a ban and will be out of action for a year after testing positive for an unnamed substance.

His suspension comes just weeks after golf was inducted into the Olympic programme for the Rio games in 2016.

“I would like to apologize for any negative perception of the tour or its players resulting fro my suspension,” said the 40-year-old.

“I want my fellow tour members and fans to know that I did not intend to gain an unfair competitive advantage or enhance my performance while on tour.”

Barron, who turned professional in 1992, has played eight full seasons on the PGA Tour, most recently in 2006 when he finished with two top tens.

Since then he has competed mainly on the second tier Nationwide Tour and failed to make the cut in any of his outings this season.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered