Singh, PGA Tour settle doping case

Vijay Singh has settled his lawsuit against the PGA Tour over how it investigated his use of deer-antler spray, ending more than five years of litigation less than a week before the case was to go to trial in New York.

Terms of the settled announced Tuesday were not disclosed.

“I’m very happy for Vijay that the matter has been resolved,” said Jeffrey Rosenblum, one of his attorneys.

Rosenblum declined further comment because of a confidentiality agreement. The PGA Tour said in a statement that the settlement reflects a mutual commitment to move forward “as we put this matter behind us.”

It ends a rough chapter in the tour’s 10 years of an antidoping program.

Singh was approaching his 50th birthday when he said in a Sports Illustrated article at the start of 2013 that he used deer-antler spray, which was said to include an insulingrowth factor that was on the tour’s list of banned substances.

The tour sent a sample from Singh to be tested, and it returned small amounts of IGF-1. Under the tour’s policy, admission of using a banned substance is a violation even without a test. The tour told him Feb. 19, 2013, that he would be suspended for three months.

Two months later, the tour decided to drop its case. During the appeals process, thenCommissioner Tim Finchem said the World Anti-Doping Agency said it no longer considers deer-antler spray prohibited except for a positive test result because it contained such a tiny amount of IGF-1.

The next week, Singh sued the tour, claiming “public humiliation and ridicule” during the 12-week investigation.

British sprinter Nigel Levine, who has won world and European championship medals, has been banned for four years for doping.

The U.K. Anti-Doping agency says Levine tested positive in an out-of-competition test last year for the banned substance clenbuterol, which can be used to burn fat.