LIV Golf star banned from play in anti-doping violation
LIV Golf has come under a lot of scrutiny since its inception, with astronomical prize money drawing some of the world’s biggest names away from more established and traditional tournaments.
But, one area where LIV are infinitely strict is its enforcement of a proper anti-doping policy to ensure the integrity of the game. Unfortunately, for one big-name player, an innocent mistake has forced these rules to come into effect.
LIV Golf professional Graeme McDowell, a former U.S Open Champion and well-respected pro in his own right, has confirmed he’ll be missing his next-scheduled LIV event due to accidentally taking a banned substance.
The issues arose during his last LIV game at The Grove Golf Club in Nashville; a course that’s available to play on the TrackMan Virtual Golf Simulator.
What did Graeme McDowell do?
In a recent post on X, McDowell confirmed that in the lead-up to the LIV Nashville event, he had been suffering from “severe congestion” that was making it impossible for him to sleep.
As a result, he used a simple nasal spray to relieve the blockage. A medicine that’s available over the counter.
However, after using the spray, he quickly realised he should have checked it for banned substances first. Sadly, the spray did indeed contain elements that are featured on LIV’s banned list, resulting in an immediate anti-doping violation.
McDowell later admitted that the situation could have potentially been avoided had he applied for a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) which could have permitted him to use such a medicine despite its inclusion in the banned list. However, as a spur-of-the-moment decision, McDowell admitted this was a complete oversight:
"Ahead of LIV Nashville, I was struggling with severe congestion that was affecting my sleep," said McDowell.
"In an effort to manage it, I used a generic nasal decongestant without realising it might be on the banned list.
"As a professional golfer, I understand the importance of checking all medications and the option to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
"Unfortunately, I did not think to do this due to the over-the-counter nature of this medicine and I deeply regret the oversight. I fully accept the sanctions imposed by LIV."
Despite being an easy mistake to make, and a seemingly harmless one, LIV had zero doubt it needed to impose its ruling, disqualifying McDowell and his team from the already-played match in Nashville, as well as handing the Irishman a hefty $125,000 (£98,000) fine.
On top of this, McDowell will also miss LIV Golf’s next event in West Virginia, which begins on the 16th of August. However, he will be able to return to play for LIV’s next event in Chicago, teeing off in September.
Until then, the veteran golfer has plenty of time to sharpen his tools and fit in some much-needed practice. Hopefully while avoiding the pitfalls of a blocked nose!
What is the TrackMan Virtual Golf Simulator?
If you want to experience some of the same courses played by LIV professionals (including The Grove mentioned above) you can with the TrackMan Golf Simulator!
An innovative and high-tech piece of golf equipment, the TrackMan Simulator allows players to enjoy the splendour and challenges of some of the world’s most famous golf courses, in a variety of weather conditions, all from the privacy of their home, office or similar settings.
The TrackMan Simulator projects your course of choice onto the included screen, while one camera and two radars analyse the flight and impact of your ball once struck, creating a pinpoint accurate impression of where the ball would have landed in real-life play.
Not only does this allow you to “travel the world” without ever stepping outside, but it also offers in-depth data and insights into your swing and ball flight you can use to make significant improvements when you finally step up to the tee in your next round.
With input provided by some of the world's top players, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, TrackMan Golf Simulators and launch monitors bring an elite level of practice to any player’s fingertips.
Explore the TrackMan Virtual Golf Simulator at Black Box Golf
If you want the chance to play courses you’d never normally get to see, or you’re simply looking for a fun and inventive way to perfect your swing at home, the TrackMan Golf Simulator is the ideal choice.
At Black Box Golf, we’re approved stockists of TrackMan indoor golf products, so you can always trust you’ll receive the highest-quality products and expert-level information when shopping with us.
To find out more about the TrackMan Virtual Golf Simulator, or for information on the TrackMan range, speak to a Black Box Golf representative today.