In a first in league history, LIV Golf suspended Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell for one event Sunday for violating its anti-doping policy.
LIV said in a news release that McDowell was found to have used a decongestant that included a banned substance, R-methamphetamine (levo-methamphetamine), during LIV Golf Nashville in June.
McDowell will be ineligible to play LIV Golf Greenbrier this coming week in West Virginia. He was also assessed a $125,000 fine, and the points he and his team (Smash GC) accrued at LIV Golf Nashville will be disqualified.
Smash GC, captained by Brooks Koepka, placed 12th out of 13 teams at Nashville with a team score of 12 under par, according to LIV’s website.
“Ahead of LIV Nashville, I was struggling with severe congestion that was affecting my sleep,” McDowell wrote in a statement posted to social media. “In an effort to manage it, I used a generic Vicks nasal decongestant without realizing 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.”
LIV Golf will announce a reserve player to fill McDowell’s spot on Smash GC at Greenbrier, which will be played Aug. 16-18.
McDowell, 45, is best known for winning the 2010 U.S. Open and helping Europe win the Ryder Cup in 2010, ’12 and ’14. He has been ranked as high as No. 4 in the world. Ten of McDowell’s 16 career titles came in European Tour events; he has yet to win on the LIV circuit.
–Field Level Media