Dustin Johnson Suspended 6 Months For Positive Drug Test (UPDATED)

((HT: Golf.com/Bamberger, Walker))

Now, we know...

Yesterday, PGA Tour pro Dustin Johnson was stepping away to take some time and seek "professional help" for some issues that he was going through at present.

Bamberger and Walker may now have the answer as to what those issues are: testing positive for cocaine.

The article also sheds some light on what could be some very serious allegations on Johnson's behavior while he has been on tour the last few seasons.

The background to this suspension from the Golf.com article:

Johnson has failed three drug tests: one for marijuana in 2009 and two for cocaine, in 2012 and 2014. He was previously suspended for the 2012 failed test, but that suspension was never made public. Under the PGA Tour’s drug-testing policies, the Tour is not required to announce any disciplinary actions against players who test positive for recreational drugs.

His past is somewhat checkered with the tour and includes an alleged indiscretion with another player's wife.

Johnson's "management team" released this statement yesterday:

“I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced,” he said in a statement issued by his management company. “By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion.”

Here's a feature the tour put together on Johnson on him when he returns to his home town- Jupiter, Florida


The HQ hopes he gets the help he needs...

1900 UPDATE: The tour is saying he is not suspended...

Executive vice president Ty Votaw says the leave is voluntary.

"With regard to media reports that Dustin Johnson has been suspended by the PGA Tour, this is to clarify that Mr. Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA Tour," Votaw said in a statement.

Chael Sonnen Explains TRT And Hypogonadism

((HT: Fox Sports))

Not really topics the HQ thought that would really ever be discussed about when on sports-based television programs. But when Chael Sonnen failed drug tests before his fight in UFC 175, he went on to the network where he is an analyst to discuss what went down...


Sonnen tested positive for Anastrozole and Clomiphene- anti-estrogen drugs normally given to women. If men take the drugs (banned by UFC), they reduce estrogen and can also help restart natural testosterone production. Since he had taken synthetic testosterone in the earlier parts of his career, Sonnen needed to take other medication for the correction inside his body later in life.

Sonnen is, obviously, appealing the ruling...

ESPN: Josh Gordon Faces Season Ban

((HT: Newsnet5))

For a second failed drug test that, sources are telling TJ Quinn and Don Van Natta, comes from marijuana.

His first suspension came from, what Gordon claimed was taking cough medicine with codeine in it- a violation.

In true Browns fashion, according to the article- the Browns front office folks knew the news, but the coaching staff did not.


The key passage from Quinn and Van Natta:

Reached by phone Friday afternoon, Gordon said: "That's something you're going to have to talk to [agent] Drew Rosenhaus about. I really don't know anything about it."

Asked whether he planned to dispute the test, Gordon said: "I'm going to have to find out about that later. You need to call Drew." Gordon then hung up the phone.

Rosenhaus declined to comment on the specifics of the matter.

A spokesman for the NFL Players Association declined to comment.

The team has picked up two receivers in the off-season including Nate Burleson, and now it will be interesting to see if their new quarterback will have Gordon to throw to as well.

Tyson Gay Tests Positive for Banned Substance (UPDATED: Five Jamaicans Did, Too, Including Asafa Powell)

((ht: ap.org))

The fastest man in the United States will be sitting out the August World Championships after getting a positive drug test result on Friday.

Tyson Gay got the results from a May test given by the U.S Anti-Doping Agency. That test was given on May 16th.

He told the Associated Press--"I don't have a sabotage story, I basically put my trust in someone and was let down."

Gay made his way back into the headlines recently after going on the record that he felt healthy and good enough to take down Usain Bolt.

That won't happen next month in Moscow as Gay now tries to get his B sample (2nd test) results and hope those come back clean.

PM UPDATE: Five Jamaicans have been tested positive for banned substances...

Two field event athletes and three runners tested positive at the National Trials and the two sprinters are Olympic gold medallists- Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson... Powell apparently handed over his supplements when his trainer got busted in Italy...

Powell then released a statement:

“I want to be clear in saying to my family, friends, and most of all my fans worldwide that I have never knowingly or willfully taken any supplements or substances that break any rules. I am not now — nor have I ever been — a cheat,” he said.

“My team has launched an internal investigation and we are cooperating with the relevant agencies and law enforcement authorities to discover how the substance got in my system. I assure you that we will find out how this substance passed our rigorous internal checks and balances and design systems to make sure it never happens again."

Simpson did the same:

“I would not intentionally take an illegal substance of any form into my system. I want to sincerely say to my family (especially my parents, grandparents and siblings), Paul Doyle (agent), MVP track club, fellow athletes, former sponsors and the rest of Jamaica, that l am deeply sorry for any hurt or embarrassment this positive test may have caused."

Sources are telling the Gleaner newspaper in Jamaica that the sprinters might have ingested the banned substance from a new dietary supplement recently introduced to their training camp.

It is understood that one of the athletes had done extensive research on the supplement before taking it, and is now considering legal action against the supplier.

Well, then...

Here's Gay beating Powell at Lausanne just recently... interesting to see just how much of this holds up...