Players get all clear after Euro Tour drug tests

THE European Tour yesterday revealed there had been no positive tests at the start of their new drug-testing programme.

Six players were tested during the European Open a fortnight ago — including former British Open champion Paul Lawrie — and all of them tested negative for banned substances.

Speaking at Royal Birkdale, European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: “We tested six players at the European Open, chosen from random, three from one half of the draw and three from the other. All six players were happy with the way it was done.

“We have said we’re not going to discuss individual findings. But in honour of the fact that this championship starts on Thursday, we asked for fast-tracked testing and the results are all negative.

“I think the players understand why we have to do it. One is for the bid to get golf into the Olympics, and two is to keep the unprecedented image of professional golf. We strongly believe we are completely clean and we have to be seen to be clean now and prove it.

“We’ve had a widespread education process on supplements, the sorts of things everybody takes, not just sportsmen, and the same has gone on on the PGA Tour.”

Last year’s British Open at Carnoustie began amid claims from Gary Player that he “knows for a fact” there are players taking drugs.

Drug testing also began on the US Tour the same week as in Europe and no positive findings have been reported, but there will be no testing at the Open as international qualifying started before the various education programmes had been fully embarked upon.

The first major to have drug testing will be next month’s USPGA at Oakland Hills, while September’s Ryder Cup is also subject to the new regime.

France’s Marc Farry failed a voluntary drug test at the French Open in 2003, but was later exonerated when it was established the result was due to medication he was taking for a wrist injury.