SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ahead of the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Wednesday, PGA Tour veteran Vijay Singh admitted use of deer antler spray, which contains a substance banned on the Tour.
Singh, who had not arrived at TPC Scottsdale when he issued a written statement, was named in a Sports Illustrated article as one of a number of athletes to have used a banned substance from a small company called S.W.A.T.S. — Sports with Alternatives to Steroids. The statement read as follows:
"While I have used deer antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour anti-doping policy. In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position. I have been in contact with the PGA Tour and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time."
It was not yet known Wednesday whether Singh would face any punishment for his admission. He is scheduled to tee off at 12:30 p.m. MT on for the first round on Thursday. Singh, who turns 50 in February, has 34 career victories on the PGA Tour -- including the Phoenix Open in 1998 and 2003, but is winless since 2008.
Deer antler spray, which contains IGF-1, a hormone that stimulates muscle growth, was also linked to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in a Sports Illustrated report Tuesday. Lewis denied use of any performance enhancing drug.
