{"id":293999,"date":"2023-10-12T10:46:31","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T10:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=293999"},"modified":"2023-10-12T10:46:31","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T10:46:31","slug":"south-korean-golfer-an-byeong-hun-is-banned-for-three-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/golf\/south-korean-golfer-an-byeong-hun-is-banned-for-three-months\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korean golfer An Byeong-hun is BANNED for three months"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea’s An Byeong-hun has been banned for three months for a doping violation, the PGA Tour has announced.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
His suspension has been backdated to August 31 and the 32-year-old will be eligible to play again from December 1.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
‘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\u2019s anti-doping program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
South Korea’s An Byeong-hun has been banned for three months for a doping violation<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He tested positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter cough medicine\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I\u2019d like to thank the PGA Tour for supporting me during this process and look forward to returning to competition in the new year.’<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
‘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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An is ranked No 53 in the world and will be able to return to playing from December 1 onwards<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He is the first player to suspended for a doping violation since America’s Matt Every in 2019<\/p>\n
‘He has cooperated fully with the Tour throughout the process and accepted his suspension.’<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
An first joined the US-based tour in 2016 and has four runner-up finishes, but is yet to get his first win.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Internationally the 32-year-old has won three tournaments, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2015.<\/p>\n