Sport - Golf

European Tour to begin drug testing in July

VIRGINIA WATER (England): The European Tour will introduce drug testing after July 1.

The Tour Operations Director, David Garland, who is responsible for implementation of the testing, said it would begin at the European Open, which starts on July 3 at the London Club, or shortly after.

“Because it is supposed to be random and the players are not supposed to know,” Garland said at the BMW PGA championship. “So it could be any time after July 1.”

The European and U.S. Tours will act together to begin implementation of the policy.

Garland said several anti-doping seminars had been held during tournaments since late last year, with between 20 and 30 players attending each one.

“One is enough for each player. I think we’ve got our message out there,” he said.

He added players were already contacting tour doctor over medical supplements and medications like treatments for hay fever. At least two more seminars are scheduled before testing begins at next month’s tournaments in France. — AP

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