US golfer hit with drugs ban

American golfer Doug Barron has been suspended for a year by the PGA Tour after committing a doping offence.

The 40-year-old becomes the first player to be banned for under the Tour's anti-doping programme.

Barron, whose career has been in decline in recent seasons, has won more than €3m (€2m) as a professional but has most recently been playing mostly on the Nationwide Tour.

The PGA Tour have not announced details of Barron's case beyond stating he violated policy on the use of performance-enhancing substances.

He stressed he had no intention of cheating the system.

Barron said: "I would like to apologise for any negative perception of the Tour or its players resulting from my suspension.

"I want my fellow Tour members and the fans to know that I did not intend to gain an unfair competitive advantage or enhance my performance while on Tour."