Bhavik Patel suspended for doping

Report by Anand Datla

January 16, 2015: Indian American golfer Bhavik Patel has been dealt a one year suspension for an undisclosed drug violation. The Web.com Tour golfer is believed to have violated the PGA Tour’s anti-doping policy. Since narrowly missing an opportunity to earn a PGA Tour card in 2012, Patel has been plying his skills on the Web.Com Tour. Last year he finished just outside the top 100 on the money list of that Tour.

Patel has accepted his suspension, with retrospective effect from October 7, 2014. It means the golfer has admitted taking performance enhancing substances and he shall be eligible to return to the circuit in October this year.

“In an effort to overcome an injury, I made a lapse of judgment. I regret my decision but have learned from the experience and look forward to returning to competition,” said Patel in a statement issued through the PGA Tour website.

Patel is only the second player to suffer a suspension since the Tour’s doping policies took effect in 2008. Doug Barron was the first golfer to face punishment when he was suspended in 2009. Barron tested positive when he was playing the Nationwide Tourthat season.

The American though returned early from suspension after a successful lawsuit which granted him an exemption for therapeutic use of a testosterone related substance.

Hall of famer Vijay Singh was under a cloud too, when he admitted that he used a deer antler spray even after the Tour had warned players about the risks associated. The spray is known to contain IGF-1, a banned substance. No action has been taken in the case, pending an ongoing lawsuit.

The Fresno State dropout was ranked 114th on the Web.com Tour money list last year after playing twelve events. Patel earned $41,529 in 2014  and $87,510 as prize money in 2013. Patel is No. 971 in the official world rankings.

No further details are available about the violation itself since the Tour’s anti-doping policy does not require it to disclose specific information related to the violation.