AVIDGOLFER

Suspended Pro Mark Hensby: ‘Call Me Stupid, But Don’t Call Me A Cheater’

Rick Arnett /

Somewhat off-the-map Tour pro Mark Hensby was in the news the other day for all the wrong reasons.

Now, the outed golfer attempts to explain why he blew off a directed drug test after a round in October. GolfDigest.com’s Brian Wacker posted Hensby’s reasoning.

GolfChannel’s Will Gray sizes up the rationale. 

Frustrated about his play, Hensby said he was prepared to give a blood sample but was then informed that the test would be urine, not blood.

“I had just urinated on the eighth hole, my 17th hole that day, and knew that I was probably unable to complete the urine test for at least a couple more hours,” Hensby said. “I told this gentleman that I would complete the test in the morning prior to my early morning tee time. Another gentleman nearby told me that ‘they have no authority to require me to stay.’ Thus, I left.”

Hensby explained that he subsequently received multiple calls and texts from PGA Tour officials inquiring as to why he left without providing a sample and requesting that he return to the course.

“I showed poor judgment in not responding,” said Hensby, who was subsequently disqualified from the tournament.

“Again, I made a terrible decision to not stay around that evening to take the urine test,” Hensby said. “Obviously in hindsight I should have been more patient, more rational and taken the test. Call me stupid, but don’t call me a cheater. I love the game. I love the integrity that it represents, and I would never compromise the values and qualities that the game deserves.”

Hey stuff happens. Tour pros Scott Stallings and Doug Barron cited similar issues of confusion with the Tour’s anti-drug policy protocols leading to suspensions when they took prescriptions to elevate low T-levels. I guess this is similar to committing on-course rules violations because one didn’t know the rules rather than blatantly cheating. But, the public smear still remains.

There’s a lot of money and reputation riding on drug samples, so ya better make triple-sure you understand the policy protocols.

 

Drug testing Mark Hensby PGA Tour