The Truth About Testing

Paul Goydos, a 15-year veteran who once used steroids prescribed by a doctor to help torn rib cartilage heal faster, was among the few willing to speak publicly against the testing plan. "I think it's the stupidest thing I've heard in my entire life," Goydos said at the Mercedes. "What's a performance-enhancing drug? Please tell me that. There's nothing out there that makes you make more putts."

The whispered concern on both the men's and women's tour involves street drugs. As might be expected among any group of young people involved in any career, there are those who partake of illegal substances for recreational reasons. "If 22 players fail because they smoke pot, what has been accomplished?" asked one veteran player who is a past PGA Tour Policy Board member. "Why should the tour care what players do in their hotel rooms at night?" asked a long-time agent.

According to a nationwide survey of more than 70 Division I universities conducted last year by the Salt Lake City Tribune, only 11.6 percent of failed tests were for performance-enhancing drugs, with steroids and their masking agents accounting for but 1 percent. The overwhelming majority of the violations -- 64.1 percent -- were for street drugs, with marijuana accounting for the bulk (57.1 percent).

"Some recreational drugs are performance-enhancing drugs -- cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines," says Pilgrim, explaining why the LPGA tests for street drugs. "We already have a code of conduct on these issues, and we have always been concerned about the health and safety of our players." Votaw agrees: "Drugs of abuse are illegal and have always been banned," he said. "Because addiction is an issue, we reserve the right to have rehabilitation as a punishment." The men's tour also reserves the right not to make public the names of those who test positive for drugs of abuse.

With their drug plans, the PGA and LPGA tours appear to have learned from the mistakes made in team sports. The NFL, for example, does not test on game days and does not require chaperones if a player needs additional time to produce a urine sample. Testers in baseball routinely give notice of their arrival by requesting parking passes for the day of the test. The NHL does not test for amphetamines and neither the NHL nor the NBA test during the off-season. Golfers, however, can be tested any time and at any place, though neither tour has determined how many players will be tested and how often testing will occur.

"We are going to work very hard to make this a credible and transparent process," Votaw said, adding the cost to the tour will be in excess of $1.5 million a year. "It's not done for public relations purposes. It's done for the good of the sport even though we don't think there is a problem." Testing for steroids is not cheap, costing about $150 per player.

The conundrum professional golf finds itself in is this: A sport that has long boasted it is the only game in which competitors call penalties on themselves -- despite the fact that cheating allegations have surfaced at times -- has succumbed to the fate it had long resisted and allowed itself to be lumped in with the sports tainted by drugs. Testing, however, may be the only way for golf to prove it is as clean as it says.

COMPARING THE PLANS
A look at how drug testing plans for the PGA and LPGA tours match up:

WHEN DO THEY GO INTO EFFECT?
The PGA Tour program begins no sooner than July 2008, after a period of player education. The LPGA program started Jan. 1. Its first official tournament starts Feb. 14.

WHO IS TESTED?
Both programs involve random testing with no advance notice. Both tours also reserve the right to "target test" a player about whom there may be suspicions. Neither tour has yet to decide how many players will be tested and how often testing will occur.

WHAT IS BANNED?
Performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids, masking agents that can hide the use of steroids, and drugs of abuse such as marijuana and cocaine. The PGA Tour also bans Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and EPO (synthetic blood doping). The LPGA says neither is a proven performance enhancer for golf.

ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS?
Players may apply for a medical waiver or therapeutic-use exception (TUE) which they can obtain if they demonstrate there is no alternate treatment besides the banned substance and that, for the player involved, it does not improve performance.

WILL THE PUBLIC BE INFORMED OF POSITIVE TESTS?
Only after all appeals have been exhausted. The PGA Tour reserves the right not to make public positive tests for drugs of abuse. It also reserves the right to impose rehabilitation as part of the punishment phase.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING APPEALS?
Under both plans, prize money earned during the appeals process will be held in an interest-bearing account until resolution of the matter.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?
PGA Tour: First offense -- up to one-year suspension; Second offense -- up to five-year suspension; Third offense -- permanent ineligibility.
LPGA: First offense -- one year suspension; Second offense -- two-year suspension and loss of membership. Must return to Q school. Third offense -- permanent loss of LPGA membership.

TESTING: The basics
A step-by-step look at how the PGA Tour will conduct its drug testing. The first testing will occur no sooner than July.

1. The player is randomly selected, advised of his rights and acknowledges in writing he has been picked for drug testing.
2. The player reports to the drug testing station as soon as possible with a photo ID and may be monitored from the time of notification until the sample is collected. Failing to report in a timely manner is a violation of the program.
3. The player rinses and dries his hands.
4. The player selects a collection vessel and verifies its seal has not been broken.
5. Only the player and the collector are allowed in the restroom during the sample collection.
6. The player splits the sample into a bottle labeled "A" and a bottle labeled "B" and seals the vessels.
7. The samples are sent to a lab where the "A" sample is analyzed and the "B" sample is stored.
8. The lab reports the results to the tour Anti-Doping Administrator.
9. If the "A" sample tests positive, the Program Administrator determines if there is a Therapeutic Use Exemption for the banned substance.
10. If the review supports the test findings, the player is advised of his rights to have the "B" sample tested. The player has two days to notify the Program Administrator if he wants to attend the "B" sample test.
11. If the "B" sample tests positive, the player can submit a written explanation. If a violation is upheld, the player is notified of his penalty, which may include disqualification, forfeiting prize money or points, ineligibility and fines. Sanctions for recreational drugs may include rehabilitation or medical treatment.
12. The player has seven days to appeal in writing to the commissioner. A hearing is held within 45 days of the appeal's receipt. The commissioner can impose a provisional suspension after the positive "A" sample finding. If there is no provisional suspension, and the player continues competing, prize money is held in escrow pending the case's outcome.
13. The player has the right to representation at the appeal hearing and the right to present evidence. The hearing officer makes a recommendation to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision is final. The hearing proceedings shall not be made public.
14. As a condition of tour membership, players waive right to seek judicial review of final decisions under the program.
15. A first offense brings a suspension of up to one year. A second brings a suspension of up to five years and a third can bring a permanent ban.
16. Upon completion of all appeals, the tour will publish the name of the player, the violation and the sanction imposed. The tour may withhold information on cases involving recreational drugs.