Doug Barron Sues over PGA Doping Allegations

PGA golfer Doug Barron is fighting doping allegations levied against him this past November with a lawsuit against the PGA under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

According to CNN, the golfer claims that he was using beta blockers and testosterone to treat a heart condition and low testosterone levels. He claims that he has been getting synthetic testosterone shots since 2005.

CNN reports that the golfer's natural testosterone levels were 78 nanograms per deciliter of blood. The average testosterone levels for a man of his age are between 300 and 500.

Mr. Barron's count could be viewed as a condition that affects his daily life deeply. CNN quotes Emory University urologist Dr. Chad Ritenour as saying, "For anyone with a low count -- and 78 is very low -- it can be very debilitating.The difference it makes for someone's quality of life is really huge. I've had some men come in and give me a hug because they felt so much better on [synthetic testosterone] than off it."

Mr. Barron often wondered why he was so listless before he realized he had such low testosterone levels. He told CNN: "I didn't want to get out of bed most days, much less do anything in it. I was always wondering, 'What's wrong with me?' I thought it was in my head and this was something I could fix if I just had the right attitude."

He filed a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to get a therapeutic exemption for his condition. Mr. Barron's attorney Jeff Rosenblum claims, "The definition of a disability is something that impairs a major life activity, and intimacy with your wife is a major life activity."

Unfortunately for Mr. Barron, a magistrate has already ruled that this particular argument is not valid, but he may have a case for his beta blockers. The case has been likened to the Supreme Court case of Casey Martin who sued the PGA for not allowing him to use a golf cart because of a degenerative circulatory disease under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mr. Barron is currently on a one year suspension from the PGA resulting from the doping allegations.

Related Resources:

• Attorney: Barron files suit to stop PGA suspension (AP)
• Reflections On The Martin Case And ETS' Old Policy Of "Flagging" Disabled Students' Exam Scores (Findlaw)
• PGA TOUR, INC. v. MARTIN (Findlaw)