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Golf finally joined other major sports when its leading
organizations announced an anti-doping policy that will begin
in 2008.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, who also serves as chairman
of the World Golf Foundation, said the policy includes a list
of banned substances, and methods for each golf organization
to carry them out.
The list of banned substances includes anabolic agents, hormones,
stimulants, narcotics, beta blockers and masking agents.
Golf did not adopt the World Anti-Doping Association list
because Finchem said it would cause an additional administrative
burden and "we do not consider the substances in any
way impactful as a performance enhancement."
The organizations behind the drug policy are the PGA Tour,
European Tour, U.S. Golf Association, Royal & Ancient
Golf Club, Augusta National Golf Club, PGA of America and
the LPGA Tour.
Are performance-enhancing drugs currently being used on
the tour?
Key players and officials are claiming golf needs a policy
in place before there is a major problem on the professional
golf tours. Gary Player revealed he knew for certain that
some players are abusing performance-enhancing drugs on the
professional circuit.
The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency revealed he has
been contacted by key figures in the sport who are worried
by the levels of drug abuse among top players. The PGA said
they didn't want their golfers lumped in with footballers,
basketball players and hockey players.
So far there is no evidence of doping going on the PGA
tour and until there is the PGA will not make a move!
The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency believes beta-blockers,
Human Growth Hormone and EPO are being used to enhance players'
performance. He added: "What testing will do is to
deter those who might consider using drugs and scare away
those who may have already started, then the problem may disappear."
Performance-Enhancement Drugs That Might Be Used For Golf
Beta Blockers - Beta-blockers reduce
the heart rate and the heart's output of blood. These drugs
also may reduce the anxiety. Australian golfer Craig Parry
charges that some golfers may be using beta blockers, drugs
usually prescribed for cardiovascular disease, to steady their
nerves. Actors, musicians, and public speakers often use beta
blockers to ease performance anxiety. Parry says that the
drug's calming effect could give golfers, who are under pressure
to sink a winning putt, an unfair advantage. Golfer Nick Price,
who took beta-blockers for high blood pressure, said that
the medication was actually a detriment.
Human Growth Hormone - Effects of growth hormone
on the tissues of the body can generally be described as
anabolic (building up). Like most other protein hormones
GH acts by interacting with a specific receptor on the surface
of cells. Human growth hormones have been around for decades.
In fact, professional athletes have been using human growth
hormone products to achieve their peak performances since
its original discovery in the 1960's.
Erythropoietin (EPO) - Should have no beneficial
effect in golf. Its biggest application is in endurance
sport, notably cycling and endurance running. It was links
between EPO and the Festina team in the Tour de France which
blew cycling apart. Stimulants would be counter-productive
in golf.
One point to remember is that golf requires explosive
bursts of power mixed with the utmost mental and physical
composure, and it has not yet been demonstrated that there
is any artificial stimulant which will help in both these
departments at the same time.
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MILAN, Aug 1 - Italian professional golfer Alessandro Pissilli
has failed a drugs test, the Italian Olympic Committee said
on Wednesday.
Pissilli, who plays on the Italian pro tour, tested positive
for finasteride during the Omnium National Championship
near Turin on June 29 after a test was requested by the
Italian Golf Federation.
Finasteride, most commonly used in treating hair loss,
is not performance-enhancing but is on the banned list because
it can be used as a masking agent.
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