PGA Tour Resists Blood Testing Due To Performance Effects!?
While one can make a case for the PGA Tour's aversion to drug testing over the years since image is sales point #1, their case for not moving to blood testing is tied to performance impact, reports SI's Pete Madden.Without blood testing, there is no way to detect the use of HGH, easily the most attractive possibility for a golfer seeking to recover faster from injuries or simply to look as young as Dr. Galea, Tiger's rehab man of choice. Though as of May that testing will take place because of the Olympics. Still, the reason for no blood testing obtained by Madden from Andy Levinson of the Tour is pretty funny. Especially since drug testing occurs after rounds.
“Taking blood draws from golfers’ arms might impact performance if it caused a hematoma or a player suffered anemia given the fine motor skills required on certain golf shots,” Levinson said.
And WADA isn't buying it. Never a good thing.
David Howman, WADA's director general, was skeptical of the PGA Tour’s rationale on not blood testing athletes.
“We’re not talking about a transfusion,” Howman said. “It’s a very small amount of blood. If any of the arguments against collecting blood had strong scientific or medical rational, I think we would have heard about it long before now.”
Reader Comments (17)
It is as if the Tour's PR people had a meeting and tried to think of (and use) the most lame explanation they could think of.
I wonder if the independent contractor issue plays a part in this, or if the Tour just wants to trip over themselves to make sure they don't know.
tim-"Will they kick golf out of the olympics if we dont do it"
"no"
tim-"then don't do it"
When PM called me after R1 of last years Houston Open, he had just went from the scoring trailer to the drug test, so the ''post round'' is correct and shoots big holes in all the other holes given by tthe PGAT.
FWIW, I wish they would allow HGH to help heal- I see it as another medicine, not as a way to cheat. Now once the healing is done, then the med should be stopped.
I also think that given the past 50 years of sports/drugs, maybe it's time to just say eff it- 'roid out and die if you are that stupid.
Or glute issues, maybe.
If some nitwit decided that I needed to give blood during a tournament, it would almost certainly affect my performance and I don't blame the PGA Tour players for balking at the unnecessary intrusion into their life and bodies.
At some point, there really can be too much drug testing.
Your experience is hardly a reason not to test for HGH in sports.
I have a pretty enormous backside, wouldn't that work?
Typically, they try to draw from the vein inside of your elbow. If that doesn't work, the second choice is on the top of your hand. For most people, it is not a problem. For others, it is. It would be unfair to draw blood from me during a competition. A WD due to complications from blood draw would be bad for everyone.
Until they find a way to test for HGH without a blood test, they should only be allowed to test during off weeks.
Do it immediately after a tournament and before an off-week.
End of argument.