SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ?Vijay Singh released a statement on Wednesday after admitting to the use of deer antler spray, which contains a substance currently banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy.
밯hile I have used deer antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy,?he said. 밒n fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position.
밒 have been in contact with the PGA Tour and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time.?/P>
Deer antler spray contains the chemical IGF-1, which is on the banned substance list.
According to the Anti-Doping Policy, Singh conduct is in violation of the program, which was implemented in 2008. It states: 밢ther conduct may lead to the finding of a violation and sanctions under the program, including the possession, use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method; refusing or failing to be tested; tampering with a sample; trafficking in or administering any prohibited substance; or admitting to any conduct that violates the program.?/P>
Video: Interview with Sports Illustrated's David Epstein
Video: Vijay releases statement about deer-antler spray
Clearly, Singh뭩 admission falls under the final part of that statement.
Moreover, the policy also states, 밒t is each player뭩 personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his body. ?Accordingly, it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the player뭩 part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping violation.?/P>
PGA Tour officials have yet to formally comment on the matter.
It was first revealed that Singh has administered the banned substance in a Sports Illustrated report on a company called S.W.A.T.S. ?Sports with Alternatives to Steroids. According to the report, Singh paid one of the company뭩 owners $9,000 last November for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive. He also reportedly uses the spray 밻very couple of hours ?every day,?and 뱒leeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders.?/P>
밒뭢 looking forward to some change in my body,?Singh said, according to the report. 밒t뭩 really hard to feel the difference if you뭨e only doing it for a couple of months.?/P>
While IGF-1 is on the Tour뭩 banned-substances list, PGA Tour vice president of communication and international affairs Ty Votaw confirmed that, like many other professional sports leagues, the circuit does not test for either IGF-1 or HGH.
밯e have not determined a reliable test for it,?Votaw said. Players are regularly tested under the circuit뭩 anti-doping program.
On Aug. 17, 2011, the Tour issued an 밶nti-doping warning?via the green sheet which is circulated to players monthly, when it was learned that Mark Calcavecchia and Ken Green were endorsing S.W.A.T.S.?밬ltimate Spray.?/P>
밫he PGA Tour has learned that a supplement product marketed as 멶eer antler spray?contains a prohibited substance under the PGA Tour anti-doping program,?the warning read.
밆eer antler contains IGF-1 which naturally occurs in the human body and is a growth factor, like human growth hormone. IGF-1 protects cartilage, promotes the growth of bone cells and facilitates recovery. It is universally banned in all sports.?/P>
Singh is competing in this week뭩 Waste Management Phoenix Open, though he wasn뭪 included in Wednesday뭩 pro-am.
Doug Barron is the only Tour player suspended (one year) under the circuit뭩 performance-enhancing drug policy when he tested positive for testosterone and beta blockers in 2009.
GolfChannel.com senior writer Rex Hoggard contributed to this story.