Finchem, players comment on new drug testing policy

text size

BETHESDA, Md. -- Drug testing on the PGA TOUR began this week at AT&T National. And it started at the top.

Martin/Getty Images

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem fields questions about the implementation of the new drug testing policy.

TRANSCRIPT

The complete interview

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem went through the process to understand the parameters and gauge the experience TOUR players will undergo. He estimated that the process took nine-and-a-half minutes, "and I asked some questions," Finchem said.

"I think it's important for me and certain of our executives who are involved with the program to understand exactly what the procedure is, because by doing that, you can kind of see what player reaction will be, what players' questions will be," Finchem said. "It's just a good, healthy learning experience."

The TOUR has conducted an exhaustive educational process over the last six months. Finchem said a team of outside consultants have sat down with nearly 200 players and answered their questions. Drug testing manuals have been circulated, and lists of banned -- and certified -- substances have been distributed.

"They have been in the locker room every week," Fred Funk said. "You can consult with them and they recommend if you're taking any supplements ... to give it to them and tell them what you're doing, and that way they can tell you yeah or nay before you even get to the drug test.

"They are not out to penalize you and they are not out on a witch hunt or anything. They just want to make sure everybody is on the same playing field and not doing something inadvertently."

Finchem said he knows that the notion of drug testing may seem counter to the culture of a sport where players call penalties on themselves. Within the last year, golf's major governing bodies have all decided to begin testing programs, although the expectation is that the game's image will remain clean.

"We're going down this road, because all sports are viewed by fans and the media as having issues in this area, whether we do or not," Finchem said. "With the highlighting in cycling in baseball in recent years, it's become intense with the involvement of Capitol Hill in all sports of what they are doing in anti-doping; we just felt we had to go down this road."

Paul Goydos agreed that drug testing is a "necessary evil."

"I think it's unfortunate that we live in that time but this is the world we live in, and ... where when it comes to athletes and to this particular issue, that it's clouded and ... in a sense, you're guilty until you prove to us that you're not," Goydos said.

"And I don't know that I necessarily agree with that, but I understand that's the world we live in."

The affable Funk couldn't resist injecting a little levity into the discussion, though.

"Well, I'd love to be accused of (being) somebody that has been enhanced because I'm driving it so far all of a sudden, but that will never be the case," said Funk, who ranks 198th out of 200 in driving distance on the PGA TOUR.

The drug testing will be random, observed to ensure a creditable program and confidential. Finchem said the TOUR will likely provide statistics on the number and frequency of tests at the end of the year. Any positive tests will be handled through an appeals process.

"When the process is completed and the final step in that process is over, we may very well release information that relates to a player, a positive test and the action that was taken," Finchem said.

"If you're familiar with our conduct unbecoming (a professional) process it takes a little while because there's an opportunity for appeals and challenges and you've seen this in other sports. So when the process is completed, we'll have something to say about it."

Finchem doesn't expect the drug testing process to silence all the naysayers. He knows if there are no positive tests, some people will wonder if the testing is flawed. They'll say there must have been a problem in the first place for the TOUR to adopt a program.

'But on balance, among people who follow the sport and know these athletes, I think a rigorous testing program will add credibility to the general notion, which I think we all recognize, there are not that many people who believe that there is any significant issue here prior to this rule going into effect," he said.

"Credibility requires that we have the program."