Rory McIlroy believes that if golf wants to be seen as one of the mainstream Olympic sports, its drug testing policy needs to be improved.
The Holywood native pulled out of the upcoming Rio Olympics last month, citing concerns over the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil as the main reason behind his decision.
On Monday, McIlroy had some cutting comments about golf’s place in the Olympics alongside the more traditional events. He believes golf’s doping policy is lagging behind that of other Olympic sports.
“I’ve been tested by the IGF or Olympic testing once this year and that was the Friday of the US Open, but it was only a urine test. I haven’t been blood-tested yet. It was only a urine test.”
“Yeah, I mean, I, on average, probably get tested four to five times a year, which is very little compared to the rest of the Olympic sports. Obviously I’ve gotten to know a lot of athletes over the years, and whether it be coming to their houses and doing blood and urine, I think drug testing in golf is still quite far behind some of the other sports.”
Rory McIlroy's true feelings on golf at the Olympics are incredibly cutting https://t.co/2nJCHCtbe6
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 13, 2016
Although he doesn’t believe there is any substance that could help a golfer in every aspect of the game, he feels that PEDs that can improve concentration and strength aren’t being properly tested for.
“You can’t really pick up HGH (human growth hormone) in a urine test. I could use HGH and get away with it. So I think blood testing is something that needs to happen in golf just to make sure that it is a clean sport going forward.”
“But, yeah, I think if golf is in the Olympics and golf wants to be seen as a mainstream sport as such, it has to get in line with the other sports that test more rigorously.”
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