Open Diary: Pound supports Player's drugs claim and backs testing regime

Dick Pound, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, poured more fuel on the fire of controversy about drugs in golf yesterday when he said he had been tipped off about use of illegal substances in the game. Pound was talking in the wake of the claim by Gary Player that 10 or more players are using performance-enhancing drugs, and as the debate rages about the introduction of testing.

The European Tour and the Ladies Professional Golf Association both have plans for it, while the United States Professional Golf Association is dragging its feet.

Asked yesterday by Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek whether he thought there were players using drugs, Pound said: "That is certainly my suspicion, and Gary Player says he knows, so that's fairly powerful medicine from somebody who has only the integrity of the game at heart. I don't know how widespread it is because there is no testing."

Pound claimed that he had been contacted by key players and officials in the sport who were concerned about drugs. "Some say they know, some say they strongly suspect," he said. "The point is that golf is a game that has always prided itself on honesty and testing is a way of demonstrating that what you say is true is true if it's true."

He added of the USPGA: "I have said to them, 'Look, this is your opportunity to lead, not to be forced to follow, so get on with it. The time is now. You should do this while you still have the initiative, rather than being forced into it as the result of a scandal. Then you are going to have the whole of golf regarded with suspicion. Do it now before there's a big public problem'."

Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods' former coach, accused the USPGA of "sticking [its] head in the sand". He said: "It's ignorance, it is just being an ostrich. Drugs is a big thing in the world of sport today. We see it in all sports all over the world and if we can come up with a foolproof testing system, it puts all these rumours to bed."

Faldo has friends on Senior service  

Nick Faldo turned 50 on 18 July, which means he can make his debut on the oldies' tour this week at the Senior British Open at Muirfield. He had been hoping to be the youngest man in the field, but could be thwarted by his chum Wayne Grady, with whom he spent a lot of time on the BBC sofa last week. Grady turns 50 on Thursday, allowing him in, too. The pair face the intriguing prospect of being joined by the Royal and Ancient's Graham Brown, whose post-dinner speech caused such a brouhaha last week. Brown is playing in qualifying.

Curtis ignites pundits' damp day at Carnoustie  

As the 2003 winner was defying awful conditions to rip around in 65 yesterday, more than one commentator was heard to say: "Ben Curtis (right) is on fire." Ha ha ha. Ouch, the sides are splitting. Do these people never go outside? There was about as much chance of unquenched fire here yesterday as there was of a Scottish winner.

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