Butch suspects drug cheats

Harmon: suspicions

We would be pretty naive to think that someone hasn't taken a growth hormone or a steroid just to allow themselves to recover from injuries

Butch Harmon
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Top golf coach Butch Harmon believes there are players in the game who are using performance-enhancing drugs.

The 64-year-old American, arguably the most famous coach in golf, is delighted that drug-testing is due to start on both the European and PGA Tours on July 1.

Interviewed in a forthcoming issue of Golf World and quoted in The Guardian, Harmon said: "You have it (testing) in all sports and I think it is a very good thing it is coming to golf.

"We would be pretty naive to think that someone hasn't taken a growth hormone or a steroid just to allow themselves to recover from injuries or to hit more balls and (make) your body react better."

Harmon added that he has his suspicions about some players. "I don't know of anyone specifically who is taking anything," he said. "I have my own suspicions but I don't know for a fact so I would never say anybody's name."

Last year Gary Player claimed that he was personally aware of 10 players who were using or had used performance-enhancing substances.

The South African was widely condemned at the time for his comments, but Harmon added: "Gary Player said he knew of 10 people (taking drugs) and he is a pretty smart man. But if you are going to make that statement - that you know for sure - then you should name names."