PGA TOUR to Begin Blood Testing, Reporting Drug Suspensions

Beginning in October when the 2017-18 season begins, the PGA TOUR will begin blood testing as part of its revised anti-doping program. Along with the new testing, the PGA will also adopt the list of banned substances with the World Anti-Doping Agency or WADA.

Blood testing allows the detection of any use of human growth hormone, which is on the list of banned substances but cannot be detected through urine. That being said, the tour still plans to use urine samples for the majority of its drug testing.

At the same time, in an effort to be more transparent, the PGA TOUR will start reporting suspensions for drugs of abuse.

Under the current policy, the tour is required to announce when a player has been suspended only for performance-enhancing drugs. Recreational drugs fell under the tour’s private “conduct unbecoming a professional” disciplinary policy. However, there is still a catch. Only those that are actually suspended due to drug use will become public knowledge. A drug test failure on its own will not be reported.

I doubt this has much to do with public outcry regarding the PGA’s lack of reporting drug use or suspensions of Tour Pros. In fact, I believe they would prefer to continue to roll-out the squeaking clean image of their product.

Instead, this is the Tour understanding that if they wanted to continue showcasing the game and their players in the Olympics, this was necessary.

Either way, this is a good thing. Any level of transparency and certainly testing for banned substances helps level the playing field. Which is what matters most.