PGA Tour issues statement regarding Vijay Singh deer antler spray cas

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Series: PGA Tour

Editor's Note: Here is the statement released by the PGA Tour regarding Vijay Singh on April 30:

The PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Program, which has been in effect since July 2008, closely follows the International Anti-Doping Standard set forth by the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) particularly as it relates to the interpretation and application of the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.

In a Jan. 28, 2013 article that appeared on SI.com, Vijay Singh was quoted as admitting to his use of a deer antler spray supplement. Subsequently, Mr. Singh confirmed his use of deer antler spray in a statement he issued. Deer antler spray contains IGF-1, a growth factor listed on both the WADA and PGA TOUR Prohibited Lists, which the TOUR warned players about in August 2011. After the SI.com article came out, WADA also issued a warning about deer antler spray on Feb. 5, 2013.

There is no test for IGF-1 currently available in routine blood testing.  However, the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy provides that an admission to the use of a prohibited substance is a violation of the policy even if there is no positive drug test. After confirming the presence of IGF-1 in the deer antler spray product provided to the TOUR by Mr. Singh through tests at the WADA-approved UCLA laboratory, the TOUR proceeded with the matter as a violation of the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy, and a sanction was issued. Mr. Singh subsequently appealed the sanction under the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Program guidelines. During the appeal process, PGA TOUR counsel contacted WADA to confirm a number of technical points.

At that time, WADA clarified that it no longer considers the use of deer antler spray to be prohibited unless a positive test results. Indeed, on April 30, WADA subsequently provided written confirmation to the TOUR that:

“In relation to your pending IGF-1 matter, it is the position of WADA, in applying the Prohibited List, that the use of "deer antler spray" (which is known to contain small amounts of IGF-I) is not considered prohibited.

On the other hand it should be known that Deer Antler Spray contains small amounts of IGF-1 that may affect anti-doping tests.

Players should be warned that in the case of a positive test for IGF-1 or hGH, it would be considered an Adverse Analytical Finding.”

Based on this new information, and given WADA’s lead role in interpreting the Prohibited List, the TOUR deemed it only fair to no longer treat Mr. Singh’s use of deer antler spray as a violation of the TOUR’s anti-doping program.

Since his initial quote was made public, Mr. Singh has cooperated with the TOUR investigation and has been completely forthcoming and honest. While there was no reason to believe that Mr. Singh knowingly took a prohibited substance, the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Program clearly states that players are responsible for use of a prohibited substance regardless of intent.  In this regard, Mr. Singh should have contacted the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Program Administrator or other resources readily available to players in order to verify that the product Mr. Singh was about to utilize did not contain any prohibited substances, especially in light of the warning issued in August 2011 in relation to deer antler spray.

Going forward, the PGA TOUR is committed to increasing its educational initiatives to remind players of the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Program and the risk of utilizing any product without a full understanding of the ingredients contained in that product. Such educational initiatives will include reinforcing with its members the many resources available to them on a 24/7 basis to respond to any questions they may have concerning any product.

The PGA TOUR recognizes that the science of anti-doping is an ever evolving subject, and the TOUR will continue to work with its consultants and WADA to stay abreast of all current developments in this area. This will include staying abreast of developing policies and procedures, specifically with regard to testing for growth hormone and IGF-1. When fully implemented tests for those substances become available in routine blood testing, the TOUR will continue to monitor the situation and make changes to the policy as necessary or appropriate.

Ravens Still Testing Radios

Posted Aug 10, 2008

By Mike Duffy



The Ravens are able to use radio headsets on the defense this year. But how are they adjusting?


Every season, the Ravens’ defense typically ranks among the best in the league. This year, that unit will have another weapon at its disposal.

NFL owners approved a rule change that will allow radio transmitters in two defensive helmets for the upcoming campaign, matching the quarterback-to-coordinator communication that has been the norm.

Only one radio can be on the field for each team, and for the Ravens, that person will typically be linebackerRay Lewis.

Lewis only wore the radio for one quarter before he took the sideline in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots, but the early returns are positive for the nine-time Pro Bowler.

“It’s cool,” Lewis said. “It gives you the same advantage our offense has had. I think you will be able to test it more once you get in front of the crowd and not have to run to the sideline every play or signal in for three or four guys. I think that’s going to be great.”



But, a more accurate judgment may come from linebacker Nick Greisen, who wore the radio helmet throughout offseason minicamps and during the majority of the Ravens’ 16-15 win at Gillette Stadium.



Greisen cited numerous problems, such as a low battery that produced a screeching noise in his ears and a time delay for communication to come from the coaches, not to mention simply getting comfortable with listening to the defensive calls instead of looking to the sideline.



“It was difficult to get used to, and to be honest, I wasn’t as happy with it as I thought I would be,” said the seven-year veteran. “The problem is that if it doesn’t work, you can’t tell if a coach is trying to give you a call or not because it doesn’t turn on.

“You would almost rather do signals, because at least then you know what you’ve got. But, we’ll get more and more used to it as we go along.”

The Ravens have secondary coach Chuck Pagano reciting the calls in to Lewis and Greisen.

Pagano thinks the key is to school the players in both ways of relaying the information - through the airwaves and hand signals.

The more primitive technique, albeit the one teams exclusively used in the past, came in handy for the Ravens in the fourth quarter in New England. Baltimore was already sitting many starting and second-string linebackers, including Lewis and Greisen, and when Prescott Burgess went down with a broken wrist, the knowledge of hand signals was critical for the makeshift unit.

“When we lost everybody towards the end of the game in the end, we were in a tough spot,” Pagano said. “We had Brendon [Ayanbadejo] out there, and [Jameel] McClain was playing ‘mike’ which he’s never done before. Jameel didn’t even have an earpiece, so we had to use hand signals then.

“Looking back on it, everybody did a great job.”

It’s obvious that it will still take some work for Lewis and Greisen to fully accept the radios, something that is best accomplished in front of a noisy live crowd.



“There are definitely some kinks to work out,” Greisen admitted. “Those are different complications you’re not used to dealing with in a football game. Maybe we’ll just throw it out and not even use it.”



While Lewis didn’t go to the extreme of Greisen’s tongue-in-cheek response, he agreed with his teammate.



“It’s kind of easier out here [on the practice field] because there isn’t as much noise, so you can hear really clearly,” Lewis noted. “I think you will see the real use of it when you get in a real stadium and it’s loud – definitely in our stadium.”



They’ll both have their first chance this Saturday when Baltimore takes on the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium at 7:30 p.m. - just another incentive for fans to raise the decibel level.

P.マークセンが逆転で最終戦を制す！片岡大育が９位

GDO 1月19日(日)18時19分配信




逆転でツアー最終戦に勝利をしたプラヤド・マークセン※画像提供：アジアンツアー

◇アジアンツアー◇キングスカップ　最終日◇タイ・ホアヒンのブラックマウンテンGC（タイ）◇パー72

見たい選手＆大会が選べる！ピックアップフォトギャラリー

2013年度のツアー最終戦を制したのは地元タイのプラヤド・マークセンだった。首位と３打差の５位タイからスタートしたマークセンは、前半に３ストローク伸ばすと、後半13番パー５でイーグルを奪い混戦を抜け出した。17番でもバーディを奪い通算12アンダーで逆転優勝を果たした。

通算11アンダーの２位はリカルド・カールバーグ（スウェーデン）。予選を首位で通過しながら３日目にスコアを落とし５位に後退していたが、17番、18番の上がり２ホールで連続バーディを奪い２位に食い込んだ。通算９アンダー３位はインドのアニルバン・ラヒリとチャプチャイ・ニラト（タイ）、プロム・ミーサワット（タイ）が並んだ。

日本の片岡大育は４バーディ、１ボギーとスコアを伸ばして通算５アンダー。16位タイから９位タイに順位を上げた。一方、予選を首位と２打差の４位で通過した市原弘大は、３日目同様最終日も苦しい展開が続いた。１バーディ、５ボギーでラウンドし通算３オーバーの47位タイで４日間の戦いを終えた。