As noted in the Casper Star-Tribune today, the Ladies Professional Golf Association begins an anti-doping program this year with the release of their banned list. Rather than follow the WADA banned list the LPGA developed their own.
The tour said Wednesday that it will test for 33 anabolic steroids, 29 stimulants and 20 beta-blockers, among other substances. The list is not as comprehensive as the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list, but LPGA Tour general counsel Jill Pilgrim said the tour wanted to target drugs that would enhance golf performance.
The National Center for Drug Free Sport in Kansas City, which handles testing for the NCAA, consulted with the LPGA in defining their banned list. The tour will not test for HGH because it doesn't appear to be problematic. The Nation isn't sure any of the anabolic substances are problematic.
Anabolic steroids would increase strength, however participants on the tour don't sport muscular appearances. 'Stimulants' (we always object to that term) would improve concentration. 'Beta-blockers' decrease tremors, and thus may improve public performance skills (should these medications actually be banned).
It would be an interesting debate to look at various medications. Why ban a beat-blocker --likely mildly effective in reducing tremor and anxiety-- and not ban a serotonin reuptake inhibitor like Prozac, which could reduce anxiety and even the 'yips' (obsessive anxiety about putting)?
Some great quotes came from Anmika Sorenstam:
Officials presented the list to players at a meeting Tuesday night. Annika Sorenstam, a member of the tour's drug-testing subcommittee, said she hadn't heard of most of the banned substances.
"I'm not very familiar with any of those substances, and I don't really know what they are other than caffeine (which is not banned) and cocaine, I think," she said. "I have a lot of learning to do. But I think it's an important statement that we're making.
"It's a new era for the LPGA," Sorenstam said. "We're standing behind it."
LP
Comments