LPGA adds drug testing – it’s Carolyn Bivens’ best decision yet

The AP reports that in 2008 the LPGA Tour will begin testing athletes for steroids and other performance enhancing drugs.  Specifics as to testing will be determined over the next six to nine months – and therein will lie the truth as to whether testing will actually have some teeth or simply be lip service.
This is the best decision Carolyn Bivens has made as LPGA Commissioner.  She even beat PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Fincham to the punch and now the pressure on him to change his “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will be much greater.

Bivens should give a call to Dr. Gary Wadler of the World Anti-Doping Agency or some of the folks at the US counterpart, USADA on how to stay ahead of the curve on catching athletes using designer drugs that evade presently existing testing.  The most important issues are for testing to be state-of-the-art to catch newly created designer drugs and for penalties to be severe enough to both discourage cheaters and properly punish the guilty.  Otherwise this will be nothing more then a shell game.

It’s a good start people.  Now keep the pressure on the cheaters.  The noble spirit of the game demands that cheaters never prosper.