South Korean golfer is handed a three-month drugs ban for taking COUGH MEDICINE in his homeland… only to realise the over-the-counter meds his mum recommended broke the rules
- Golfer An-Byeong-hun has been banned for three months for a doping violation
- He tested positive for a banned substance after taking cough medicine for a cold
- An is ranked No 53 in the world and will be able to return from December 1
South Korea’s An Byeong-hun has been banned for three months for a doping violation, the PGA Tour has announced.
In a statement, the tour said the world number 53 tested positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter cough medicine in his native South Korea.
His suspension has been backdated to August 31 and the 32-year-old will be eligible to play again from December 1.
Posting on his Instagram story after the ban was made public, An said: ‘In August, I was suffering from a head cold and cough. As my symptoms worsened, my mother suggested I take a widely available medication from Korea that had helped her through a similar ailment.
‘I took this medicine without checking its contents first, only to later find that it contained a substance that is prohibited under the PGA Tour’s anti-doping program.
South Korea’s An Byeong-hun has been banned for three months for a doping violation
He tested positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter cough medicine
‘It was the only time I used this medication and in no way did I take it to gain a competitive advantage. I regret not being more thorough in my decision-making and take full responsibility for my actions.
‘I’d like to thank the PGA Tour for supporting me during this process and look forward to returning to competition in the new year.’
A PGA Tour statement added: ‘Byeong Hun An has violated the PGA Tour anti-doping policy and has been suspended for three months, with the suspension being retroactive to August 31, 2023.
‘An tested positive for a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) contained in a cough medicine available over the counter in his native Korea.
An is ranked No 53 in the world and will be able to return to playing from December 1 onwards
He is the first player to suspended for a doping violation since America’s Matt Every in 2019
‘He has cooperated fully with the Tour throughout the process and accepted his suspension.’
An has become just the eighth player to be suspended for a doping violation since the PGA Tour begun drug testing in 2008 and he is the first since America’s Matt Every was banned in 2019.
An first joined the US-based tour in 2016 and has four runner-up finishes, but is yet to get his first win.
Internationally the 32-year-old has won three tournaments, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2015.
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