Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell was suspended for one tournament and fined $125,000 by the Saudi Arabia-backed golf association LIV Golf on Sunday for violating the association’s anti-doping rules.
According to LIV Golf, McDowell’s violation occurred at the league’s Nashville tournament in June, when the Northern Ireland native took a decongestant that contained a banned substance known as R-methamphetamine.
In his statement about X, McDowell said he suffered from nasal congestion that affected his sleep and was using “generic Vicks nasal decongestant,” but that he didn’t think to seek a therapeutic exemption because he bought the medication over the counter.
“As a professional golfer, I understand the importance of checking all my medications and the option to apply for a therapeutic use exemption,” McDowell said. “Unfortunately, this did not occur to me… and I deeply regret this oversight. I fully accept the sanctions imposed by LIV.”
Per LIV policy, McDowell and his Smash GC team results at the Nashville event have been disqualified and prize money and points will be adjusted retroactively.
McDowell finished tied for 42nd in Nashville, while Smash GC, the team captained by five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, finished 12th out of 13 teams.
McDowell, who won the 2010 U.S. Open, will be eligible to return to competition at the LIV Chicago golf tournament Sept. 13-15, while the vacant spot at Smash GC will be filled by an unconfirmed reserve player at the Greenbrier tournament Aug. 16-18.
