Elliot Saltman has decided not to appeal against the three-month ban he received from the European Tour.
Scot decides against contesting European Tour suspension
Elliot Saltman has decided not to appeal against the three-month ban he received from the European Tour.
The 28-year-old was handed the suspension after being found guilty of a "serious breach" of the rules during a Challenge Tour event in Russia last year.
His two playing partners both asserted that the Tour qualifying school graduate did not replace his ball correctly on a number of occasions.
Saltman continues to insist he did not cheat and has even taken a lie-detector test to prove his innocence.
However, the Scot no longer intends to appeal the ruling and is instead focusing on his return to action - he will be eligible to compete on the European Tour at the Volvo China Open once the ban finishes in mid-April.
"I wish to emphasise again that I do not cheat, have never cheated and do not believe I have done anything wrong," he said in a statement.
"I want to get back to playing as quickly as I can because playing is the best way to show people that I am not a cheat.
"It has been a terrible few months. I have worked all my life to be a professional golfer and I love the game. To get my Tour card and then have this happen is unimaginable.
Hurtful
"To have people who don't know me and who know nothing about me go out in the media and question my honesty is really hurtful.
"To be accused of being a cheat is a terrible stigma and sadly is one that I will now almost certainly have to carry for the rest of my life.
"But I am a golfer and I just want to get back out there and play.
"I know there is a lot of sympathy for me amongst the players as well, although I am sure that a few will give me a frosty reception.
"That will be difficult, but I will just have to live with it."
Saltman has already competed in a tournament since the ban was imposed, that appearance came on the Hi5 Pro Tour in Spain and he finished fourth - the winner was his brother Lloyd, also a European Tour member.
The statement said that his legal team advised him of concerns over the likelihood of an appeal success "given the current procedures followed by the European Tour that restrict their ability to proactively and fully put his case".
It also stated that he had voluntarily commissioned a polygraph test in which he was asked if he had incorrectly marked his ball in Russia or had ever cheated during his professional career.
"To both questions Elliot answered 'No'. The examiner found no traces of stress in the answers and concluded "it is my professional opinion that the examinee is truthful".
