Professional golfer Dustin Johnson announced Thursday that he was taking a leave of absence to seek help for what he called “personal challenges.” On Friday, it was revealed he reportedly was suspended by the PGA Tour.
Golf.com reports Johnson has been suspended after testing positive for cocaine. The suspension is for six months. A source tells the website that Johnson has failed three drug tests since 2009. One was for marijuana in 2009 and two positive tests for cocaine in 2012 and 2014.
According to Golf.com, Johnson was suspended for the failed test in 2012, but the suspension wasn’t announced. The PGA Tour’s drug policy does not require announcements for recreational drug-related discipline.
FOX Sports golf analyst Robert Lusetich had even more details on the suspension and Johnson’s alleged behavior.
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Johnson currently ranks third on the PGA Tour money list and has one win on tour this season. He’ll miss the season’s final major — next week’s PGA Championship — and also won’t be participating in the Ryder Cup later this year.
UPDATE (6:25 p.m.): On Friday, PGA executive vice president Ty Votaw backed Johnson’s announcement that he’s voluntarily taking a leave of absence, denying that the Tour has suspended him.
“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.
Votaw refused to comment on the Golf.com rumors that surfaced earlier in the day.
“In regard to the report in golf.com, the PGA Tour does not comment on rumors and speculation,” he said.
Photo via USA Today Sports Images
