Stallings suspended 3 months for doping violation

Scott Stalling has been suspended for three months for violating the PGA Tour’s anti-doping policy’s ban on use of performance-enhancing substances.

Stallings is now the third player suspended by the Tour via this policy, the first tournament victor.

Yet Stallings did not fail a test – instead, he discovered that he had inadvertently taken a banned substance and submitted himself voluntarily knowing he would be banned.

The 30-year-old said he was advised to take the supplement by his doctor, and claimed he was taking the substance – which was to deal with an “incredible amount of fatigue” – during the Humana Challenge in January, when he did not produce a positive test. He would not be eligible to return until October 7, the week of the Presidents Cup in South Korea.

Speaking to the golf channel, he added: “Whether I intended to or not, I took something that wasn’t allowed”.

Neither Stallings nor the tour disclosed the supplement. “The TOUR will have no further comment on the suspension at this time”.

Stallings joins Doug Barron and Bhavik Patel as the only three golfers to serve PED-related suspensions.

Stallings had not qualified for the British Open, but was in the field for the PGA Championship. I did so on the recommendation of my physician due to chronic fatigue I had felt over a period of time – not in any way for performance enhancement.

“I did it immediately, so much so it took [the Tour official] by surprise”.

He missed the cut at Phoenix and was 66th at Riviera around his Torrey Pines title defense. The announcement that he was suspended was about five months after Stallings said he informed the tour of his violation.