PGA Tour pro responds after being banned for three months
PGA Tour pro Ben An has taken to Instagram to release a full statement after he was banned for three months for violating anti-doping rules.
PGA Tour pro Ben An has claimed the substance he took which saw him banned for three months came from a widely available medication from Korea to treat coughs.
The tour released a statement on Wednesday confirming the 32-year-old had violated an anti-doping policy.
An will be allowed to return to competition from 1 December. The golfer has now taken to Instagram to release a full statement.
In that statement, he explained he took the substance in August when he was suffering from a head cold and a cough.
He took the medication on the advice of his mother, he wrote, and did so without fully checking the contents.
An wrote:
In full, An's statement:
"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 PGA Tour's anti-doping program.
"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."
What the PGA Tour said:
"The PGA Tour announced today that 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 contained in a cough medicine available over the counter in his native Korea. He has cooperated fully with the tour throughout the process and accepted his suspension. He will be eligible to return to competition on December 1, 2023."
The tour said they would not comment further on the suspension.
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Ben joined GolfMagic as Content Executive in September 2021 just before the Ryder Cup and has contributed significantly to the growth of the site. Ben now assumes our Content Manager role, specialising in PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf content.
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