Vijay Singh Settles Lawsuit Against PGA Tour for Anti-Doping Claim
Vijay Singh and the PGA Tour have finally settled a lawsuit Singh brought against the organization over five years ago, less than a week before the suit's trial was set to begin. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but a joint press release said both sides are looking forward to moving forward and that "the PGA TOUR recognizes that Vijay is one of the hardest working golfers to ever play the game, and does not believe that he intended to gain an unfair advantage over his fellow competitors in this matter."
Singh Temporarily Banned for Using Deer Antler Spray
At the heart of the lawsuit was the temporary ban that the PGA Tour placed on Singh after he was quoted in a Sports Illustrated article for having used Deer Antler Spray. The spray contains IGF-1, a chemical that is banned by the PGA. The Tour had a strict violation code for banned substance, which stated that anyone that admitted to using a banned substance, irregardless of a positive drug test, was put on a twelve week banned list. Therefore, upon hearing of the incident, Singh was suspended for twelve weeks. His suspension was later rescinded because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which is the leading anti-doping drug agency in sports, said it didn't think the substance was suspension-worthy.
Singh Consequently Filed a Defamation Suit
Singh then sued the PGA for defamation, claiming the organization treated him unfairly and unprofessionally with the automatic ban. According to Singh's lawyers, Singh experienced "public humiliation and ridicule" during the 12-week investigation and felt the Tour "rushed to judgment in accusing one of the hardest-working players in golf."
The "What" and "Why" of Deer Antler Spray
Deer Antler Spray is a liquid made from extracts of deer antlers that is sprayed under the tongue about every two hours. It is used by athletes because manufacturers claim it builds muscles which makes the athlete bigger, stronger, and faster. The spray contains IGF-1, which is a chemical compound very similar to Human Growth Hormone (HGH). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Deer Antler Spray as a food, but not as a drug. Singh claims that in no way did he take the Deer Antler Spray to gain a competitive advantage over other golfers.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by someone's false statements or accusations, contact a local personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.
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