GOLF STAR BACKS DOPING REFORMS

London, June 22: Fourtime major winner Rory McIlroy has voiced support for the PGA Tour’s drug-testing reforms that introduce blood screening and revise the list of banned substances to match the World AntiDoping Agency’s directory for the 2017-18 season.

Last July, the 28-year-old expressed concern over the lack of regular drug testing in golf compared with other Olympic sports and advocated the introduction of blood testing.

The PGA tour said on Tuesday that urine tests would still make up a bulk of examinations but blood screening would be introduced to detect human growth hormone.

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He said the course suits him and he is confident he can contend, beginning Thursday when he tees off with Jim Furyk and Brian Harman. drugs use will also be made more transparent.

“If we’re not blood testing we’re not doing all we can to make sure that golf is a clean sport, so I obviously welcome the news,” McIlroy was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph ahead of Thursday’s first round of the Travelers Championship.

“If golf wants to be a sport in the Olympics, it needs to get on board with everything that all the other sports do as well.

“I really don’t think anyone should be fearful as I don’t think that golf has any sort of drug problem at all. You have to be so careful about what you take, but that’s part and parcel about being an athlete.”

“The golf course is great — I can see why Jim Furyk hit 58 last year and why guys can go low,” McIlroy said. “If you’re on with your scoring clubs, it gives