PGA TOUR
Antidoping champion Rory McIlroy backs new drug tests
The PGA Tour sticks to urine tests, but blood screening would be introduced to detect growth hormones
Cromwell — Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy has come out in support of the PGA Tour’s drug-testing reforms, which introduce blood screening and revise the list of banned substances to match the World Anti-Doping Agency’s directory for the 2017-18 season. Last July, the Briton expressed concern over the lack of regular drug testing in golf compared with other Olympic sports and advocated the introduction of blood testing. The PGA tour said on Tuesday that urine tests would still make up the bulk of examinations but blood screening would be introduced to detect human growth hormones. Policies regarding player suspensions for illegal drugs use would be made more transparent. "If we’re not blood-testing, we’re not doing all we can to make sure that golf is a clean sport, so I obviously welcome the news," McIlroy was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph ahead of Thursday’s first round of the Travelers Championship. "If golf wants to be a sport in the Olympics, it needs to get on bo...
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