Marc Farry of France, one of six Members of The European Tour who underwent voluntary drug testing during the Open de France in June, has tested positive, The European Tour announced today.
The 44 year old from Paris took part in the test, which was conducted by the French Sports Ministry, on the final day of the tournament at Le Golf National Golf Club on June 29. Farry had been on a medically prescribed drug, used to treat a wrist injury 20 days earlier.
At present there is no definitive drugs policy for golf sanctioned by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) or the United States Golf Association (USGA), the ruling bodies for golf.
The individual national federations i.e. the French Federation, are affiliated through laws in their country to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) list.
Due to the above, voluntary drug testing is not a Condition of Competition on The European Tour so the results of tournaments stand. Any discrepancies may be discussed by the European Tour’’s Tournament Committee.
“In Marc’’s case, Marc has been on a medically prescribed drug that has a trace of a banned substance – Prednisolone – of which he was unaware,” stated David Garland, Director of Tour Operations for The European Tour.
Dr Roger Hawkes, The European Tour’’s Medical Advisor said: “This drug is not obviously performance enhancing. Indeed, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may not include it on their banned list when it comes into force next year.
“Prednisolone is a type of steroid that can be used for a number of conditions such as asthma, Multiple Sclerosis and inflammatory diseases of the eyes. It is also sometimes used as an anti-inflammatory for certain injuries.”
Farry, playing in the Nordic Open at Simon’’s Golf Club, Copenhagen, today, said he expects to be exonerated by the French Federation and is scheduled to meet the Federation on September 15.
He explained: “I received a letter from the French Sports Ministry, who conducted the test at the Open de France, on my return home after missing the cut in the Nissan Irish Open. It stated that my test was positive.
“I had received a cortisone injection and took some anti-inflammatory pills about three weeks before the Open de France and informed the doctor in attendance of this fact when we went in to the room for the drug test. I asked if that would present a problem and he said it would not.
“On the form I filled in with my name and occupation, there was also a little space for the doctor to make comments. He should have mentioned that I told him I had an injection about 20 days before the test and because he didn’’t all this has happened. I talked to the French Federation. I was really cross because I had an injury and had to do something to clear it up.
“I talked to the French Federation. I am preparing paperwork to send to them and they are satisfied. They received a letter from my doctor. There is also a witness, a fellow player, Francois Delamontagne, who also took the test. He remembered me telling the doctor about the injection and pills. It has been playing on my mind. This has really hurt me and only because the doctor taking the test didn’’t put on the form that I had had an injection. If he had put it down, nothing would have happened.”
Garland further commented that The European Tour fully support Marc at this time and await the conclusions of the French authorities’’ investigations which are a legal requirement. The Tour will not be making further comment until such time as that has happened.
He added: “The other five golfers tested at the Open de France – Philip Golding, David Howell and Peter O’’Malley, who finished first, second and third respectively - along with Francois Delamontagne and Graeme McDowell - were clear.
“Additionally, testing was carried out at the Open des Volcans Challenge de France on the European Challenge Tour at Golf des Volcans last month and the tests on the first three players, Ivo Giner, David Patrick and Marc Pendaries and the leading amateur, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, were also clear.”
