PGA Tour golfer banned for doping

Doug Barron has only played one PGA Tour event since 2006

Doug Barron has become the first golfer to be banned for taking a performance-enhancing drug.

The American, who has only played one PGA Tour event this year, has been suspended for one year after testing positive for an unnamed substance.

Drug testing on the PGA and European Tours only began in July 2008.

"I would like to apologise for any negative perception of the Tour or its players resulting from my suspension," said Barron.

"I want my fellow Tour members and the fans to know that I did not intend to gain an unfair competitive advantage or enhance my performance while on Tour."

The 40-year-old, who has won has won more than £1.8m since turning professional in 1992, has played eight full seasons on the PGA Tour, most recently in 2006.

606: DEBATE I'm glad this individual has been eradicated from our sport. A disgrace! Tigerwoodswannabe

Since then, he has competed mainly on the satellite Nationwide Tour, failing to make the cut in any of his outings this season.

His best finish came in 2005 when he finished in a tie for third at the Byron Nelson Championship.

World number one Tiger Woods says that compulsory drug testing is vital if the sport is to remain clean.

"It (Barron's ban) is unfortunate, but that is one of the reasons why we have the policy to make sure no-one does anything that's improper for the game of golf and I think that it is great that we have the policy in place," said Woods.

"I don't know if he tested for performance-enhancing or recreational, but the whole idea is to keep our sport clean and that is why we created the policy and it has been executed and unfortunately one player didn't obey the policy."

Golf finally bowed to calls from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) to introduce a testing procedure last year.

Gary Player, the nine-time major winner from South Africa, claimed in 2007 that some players were taking performance-enhancing drugs.

The PGA Tour will not reveal details of a doping case until any appeals process is complete.