Farry fails drug test but could escape censure

Marc Farry became the first European Tour golfer to return a positive drugs test yesterday. But the Frenchman seems certain to escape censure as he had been on a medically prescribed drug used to treat a wrist injury.

Farry was one of six players who undertook the voluntary test during the French Open in Paris in June. The others - Philip Golding, David Howell, Peter O'Malley, Graeme McDowell and François Delamontagne - gave negative samples.

The 44-year-old's test, conducted by the French Sports Ministry, revealed traces of a banned substance, prednisolone, which is not deemed to be performance-enhancing.

Roger Hawkes, the Tour's medical adviser, said: "Prednisolone is a type of steroid that can be used for conditions such as asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory diseases of the eyes. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory for certain injuries. This drug is not obviously performance-enhancing.

"Indeed, the World Anti-Doping Agency may not include it on their banned list when it comes into force next year."