First golfer banned for doping

When you think about performance enhancing drugs, you probably think about baseball. But another bad-ass sport is throwing its hat in the ring: the PGA.

Doug Barron, in 2006, after ripping off his shirt in a roid rage

Today, American golfer Doug Barron received a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour after it was discovered that he failed his drug test. He is the first player to be banned since the anti-doping program began last summer.

“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,” said Barron, in a statement on the PGA website.

Um, isn’t that the point to taking a performance-enhancing drug?

To be fair, Barron has suffered health problems over the past few years. And the PGA will not reveal exactly what drug was found in violation. Fellow golfer Rod Pampling was shocked to hear the news.

“I don’t believe it. Doug Barron? Look at the man,” said Pampling. “Tell him to take his shirt off and ask anyone, ‘Do you believe he’s on performance-enhancing drugs?’”

The 40-year old has played eight full seasons on the tour, but lost his tour card three years ago. This year he played in only one official PGA Tour event.