Japan golf tour set to initiate drug testing after cocaine bust
Japan’s professional golf tour, the JTGO, announced that it will begin to test for drug use after revelations that one of the tour members was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession.
36-year-old Australian golfer Wayne Perske was arrested Friday by Japanese authorities in the Tokyo prefecture of Chiba. Perske allegedly possessed 1.25 grams of cocaine.
Testing will begin at the Taiheiyo Masters scheduled from 11-14 November. The testing will focus primarily on illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine in an attempt to re-establish the integrity of
the golf tour.
"The news has damaged and depressed everyone," JGTO executive director Andy Yamanaka told Reuters.
"He has been one of our (tour) members for several years and won a tournament. It's a very disappointing situation for the fans and sponsors.
Perske turned professional in 2000 and has been a regular on the Japan golf tour and has one win back in 2006 at the Token Homemate Cup. He - currently ranked 76th on the tour - has struggled this year
with no top-tens, with his his best finish being a tie for 13th at the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup. Perske spends most of his time in Japan but has also made appearances on the Australasian PGA Tour.
The repercussions of drug possession in Japan are harsh with a maximum sentence of seven years.
It remains unknown whether the Japan golf tour will test only for illegal drugs or if its testing will encompass certain performance enhancing drugs.
The PGA tour began testing for performance enhancing drugs back in 2008. It follows a random testing program which prohibits the use of steroids, hormones, stimulants, beta blockers and of course bans
the use of recreational drugs such as narcotics and cannabinoids, among others.
"We're still trying to investigate exactly what happened," said Yamanaka. "He is still being detained and only his lawyer is able to talk to him."
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