MorePlayers who have been tested will be notified of the results by the PGA TOUR Program Administrator (see next section). If it is determined that a player committed a violation of the Anti-Doping Program, the player will be notified of the violation and the sanction. Players will have an opportunity to appeal a sanction at a hearing to be held by the Commissioner or his designee.
Under the program, the TOUR has the authority to impose a variety of sanctions, which may include: disqualification; ineligibility for up to one year for a first violation, up to five years for a second violation, and up to a lifetime ban for multiple violations; and fines up to $500,000.
In addition, for drugs of abuse (marijuana, certain narcotics, cocaine), the Commissioner will have the discretion to require treatment and rehabilitation in lieu of or in addition to other sanctions.
For any player who fails a test and is issued sanctions, the PGA TOUR will disclose that the player violated the TOUR's Anti-Doping Program and will report the penalty.
Program Administration
The Program will be handled through the PGA TOUR's Office of the General Counsel led by Rick Anderson, EVP and Chief Legal Officer. Allison Keller, Assistant General Counsel-Anti-Doping, will be the Program Administrator.
The PGA TOUR has engaged outside policy and medical experts to assist in the development and implementation of the program, including player education programs and the testing process. In developing the program, the TOUR has worked closely with Richard Young, one of the world's foremost anti-doping experts, and the principal draftsman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Mr. Young has served on the WADA Board since 2004.
I realize this is a significant amount of information on several very important areas that impact you and your fellow members. We firmly believe that these actions will enhance the overall position of the PGA TOUR for years to come and we will continue to communicate frequently with you on these key topics.
Again, I want to thank you for all that you do as a member of the PGA TOUR and for helping to make the 2007 season such a great success. I also want to extend the Board's appreciation for the diligent work and feedback by the PAC on the members' behalf. Player input is a highly valued component to the overall process of making these significant decisions.
And finally, if you have any questions about this information, please do not hesitate to contact me or our management team.
Sincerely,
Tim Finchem
