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PGA suspends golfer Bhavik Patel for PED use

By Scott Allen

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Bhavik Patel is a Web.com tour pro out of Bakersfield, California

Per golf.com, the PGA suspended golfer Bhavik Patel for one year thanks to PED’s.  Patel is a 24-year old golfer on the Web.com tour.  Patel blames injury for the lapse in judgement.

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Patel was actually suspended back in October for the performance-enhancing substance he took.  The PGA did not disclose what the substance was.  All Patel would say was that he had taken something he shouldn’t have due to an injury he was nursing.  He said he regrets the decision he made.

Patel is just the second player ever to be suspended under the current PGA performance-enhancing drug policy.  Back in 2009 golfer Doug Barron tested positive for testosterone and a beta-blocker.

Golfer Vijay Singh was also originally suspended in 2013 for using deer antler spray.  However that suspension was overturned after it was determined there wasn’t enough of the IGF-1 ingredient in the spray to be force a positive test.

Why are we learning of this now is the big question in my mind?  Patel was suspended as of October 7, 2014.  He is eligible to return to competition on October 7, 2015.  The PGA tour is not required to disclose recreational drug usage but this is a PED and it is interesting we are hearing about this more than three months earlier.

Since we aren’t hearing about this until now I guess you have to question first the timing and secondly is there anything else out there we don’t know about yet?  The tour says it is the policy to disclose the player, the fact that an anti-doping violation occurred, and what the penalty was.  Well, they sure aren’t quick about it, that’s for sure.

Most people probably haven’t heard of Patel either.  This is news the PGA could have probably released when the suspension actually began.  It could also be with the start of the new season, they felt this could have been released and kind of just swept under the rug without much discussion, especially since the player isn’t from the main tour.

People are lauding the PGA though for its policy.

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