Patel is ranked 971 in the world.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: The PGA Tour announced Wednesday that it has suspended Bhavik Patel, 24, for violating the Tour’s anti-doping policy.
Although Patel is a third-year pro, he has never played a PGA Tour event. The Associated Press reports he narrowly missed his Q-school in 2010 and played the last two years on the second tier Web.com Tour, which serves as a developmental tour for its parent organization.
“In an effort to overcome an injury, I made a lapse of judgment,” Patel said in a statement released through the tour. “I regret my decision but have learned from the experience and look forward to returning to competition.”
The tour revealed the suspension would be retroactive to October 7, which excludes Patel from professional golf until We.com Q-school next autumn.
In accordance with its official anti-doping policy, the PGA is not obligated to disclose which performance-enhancing drug Patel used.
The PGA began substance testing in 2008, and caught its first offender in 2009 when Doug Barron was suspended for a positive test. However, Barron was 40 years old, suffered from low testosterone, and had been prescribed supplements by his doctor. He subsequently launched a lawsuit against the PGA, and after it was resolved, returned to the tour two months early. Barron was also granted a “therapeutic use extension.”
In 2013, Vijay Singh was suspended after revealing to a magazine that he used deer-antler spray, which contains IGF-1– a banned substance in all sports leagues. But the World Anti-Doping Agency refined its position on the use of IGF-1 and the Tour reversed its decision.
Patel finished last year ranked 114th on the Web.com Tour money list after making 12 starts. A quick check of the PGA’s records reveals he made $41,529 in prize money last year, and $87,510 in 2013.
The California native played college golf at Fresno State, where according to NBC Sports, he reached the U.S. Amateur semi-finals in 2009 and was a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection. He eventually left school with one semester remaining, turned pro in fall of 2012, and has been on the developmental circuit ever since. Patel is currently ranked No. 971 in the official world rankings.