Cam Morfit of Golf magazine has this article discussing Doug Barron’s lawsuit against the PGA Tour over getting busted for testosterone and beta blockers.
From the article:
“Doug Barron, who sued the PGA Tour on Thursday after becoming the first player to run afoul of the circuit’s new anti-doping measures, will have to wait another day to find out if his hopes of playing in the Tour’s annual qualifying tournament will be derailed by a one-year suspension.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Tu Pham heard more than three hours of argument in Memphis federal court Friday, and said he would make his decision by early Saturday, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Rich Young, an attorney for the Tour, called Barron’s testosterone level within the normal range and accused the golfer of using supplemental testosterone, which he called “the granddaddy of anabolic steroids.”
What? The grandaddy of anabolic steriods is Winsterol. Sounds like that guy needs to call WADA quick and learn a little bit about the topic. The article continues:
“He added that beta-blockers, which Barron also tested positive for, can be used to calm an athlete’s jittery nerves and thus also constitute an unfair advantage.
Barron contends both drugs are medically necessary. He was in Houston on Friday preparing for the second stage of Q school, but his wife Leslie was in court as plaintiff’s attorney Jeffrey Rosenblum made the case that Barron is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Oh please he needs testosterone and claims a disability? Beta-blockers to stop a heart attack, maybe, but not testosterone. That’s an insult to everyone who has a real condition. But here comes the real kicker:
“Barron applied for a TUE for the beta-blocker, Propranolol, and testosterone in June of 2008, before the Tour’s testing policy went into effect. The suit says that the Tour denied the beta-blocker application on Oct. 10, 2008, and that Commissioner Tim Finchem denied an appeal on Oct. 22. The Tour denied his application for the testosterone exemption on Jan. 20, 2009, according to the suit.”
If the Judge has any cojones whatsoever, game, set, match, PGA. Sorry about the mixed sports metaphor.
As I’ve said before about steroid cheats: Hang ’em high. On second thought, hanging is too good for them. In the meantime, Tim Finchem should be chastized for neglecting to add HGH to the testing regimen. With golf being added to the Olympics – JOKE – he must get the Tour’s tesing up to snuff. When, Tim??? And why not now?
