Singh, US PGA Tour settle deer-antler doping dispute

Vijay Singh. — Photo sportsnet.ca

Golf

MIAMI — Three-time major champion Vijay Singh of Fiji and the US PGA Tour announced on Tuesday they have reached a settlement deal over a  二0 一 三 doping dispute over deer-antler spray.

The issue began with co妹妹ents Singh made five years ago to Sports Illustrated for a story about steroid alternatives, the Fijian saying he had used deer antler spray.

The PGA Tour suspended Singh after finding the spray contained IGF- 一, a banned substance under the tour’s anti-doping rules.

Singh appealed the  九0-day suspension and while the case was considered, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ruled it no longer considered using the spray a doping violation unless there was a failed drug test involved. That was not the case in Singh’s situation so the ban was revoked.

Singh, however, sued the tour later in  二0 一 三, saying he was treated unfairly in how the doping violation was handled, causing unfair harm to his reputation.

It was this suit that was settled on Tuesday.

"The PGA TOUR and Vijay Singh are pleased to announce that we have resolved our prior dispute,公众the statement said.

"The settlement reflects our mutual co妹妹itment to look to the future as we put this matter behind us. The PGA TOUR fully supports Vijay as he continues to be a true champion on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.

"The PGA Tour recognises that Vijay is one of the hardest working golfers ever to play the game and does not believe that he intended to gain an unfair advantage over his fellow competitors in this matter.

"Vijay fully supports the PGA Tour’s Anti-Doping Program and all efforts to protect the integrity of the game that he loves so much.

"The parties will make no statement concerning the settlement terms resolving this matter".

Singh won the  二000 Masters and  一 九 九 八 and  二00 四 PGA Championships. He was also a  二00 三 British Open runner-up and shared third at the  一 九 九 九 US Open.

Former world number one Singh,  五 五, played  一0 PGA events this past season, his best finish a share of  四 九th at the Masters.

On the  五0-and-over PGA Tour Champions, Singh won three times this year, including this month’s Schwab Cup Championship thanks to a final-round  六 一.

Singh’s most recent PGA title came at the  二00 八 Deutsche Bank Championship, when he won the season money crown for the third time in six seasons.

His  三 四 career PGA titles, the most by any player from outside the United States, included  二 二 beyond the age of  四0, breaking Sam Snead’s  四0-and-over career win mark. — AFP