Gary Player says golfer admitted using steroids

Golf legend Gary Player has come out and said what so many before have denied - he knows at least one golfer who has used steroids, or performance-enhancing drugs, in the past.

From the Associated Press:

Gary Player said Wednesday he knows of at least one golfer who has used steroids, and he urged golf organizations to move quickly toward a random drug-testing plan.

“We’re dreaming if we think it’s not going to come into golf,” Player said.

Player estimated 10 players from tours around the world were taking some type of performance-enhancing drug. Asked how he knew for a fact that golfers were taking steroids, he said a player told him in confidence.

“One guy told me - and I took an oath prior to him telling me - but he told me what he did and I could see this massive change in him,” Player said. “And somebody else told me something I also promised I wouldn’t tell, that verified others had done it.”

The R&A and the USGA last year at the World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa used random testing for the first time, and all 12 tests came back negative.

The LPGA Tour said it would start drug testing next year, while the European Tour and PGA Tour also are moving toward drug policies. R&A chief executive Peter Dawson supports testing, although he said the professional tours are better suited to develop drug policies.