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American journeyman Doug Barron achieved unwanted fame when he became the first golfer to receive a ban for taking a performance-enhancing drug.

In a statement the PGA Tour said Barron, 40, had been suspended for a year for violating its anti-doping policy. It did not name the drug.

"I would like to apologise for any negative perception of the Tour or its players resulting from my suspension," Barron was quoted as saying by the Tour.

"I want my fellow Tour members and the fans to know that I did not intend to gain an unfair competitive advantage or enhance my performance while on Tour."

Barron, who turned professional in 1992, has played eight full seasons on the PGA Tour, most recently in 2006. His best finish was a tie for third at the 2005 Bryon Nelson Championship.

Since then, he has competed mainly on the satellite Nationwide Tour where he has twice finished second but is yet to win a title.

In the PGA Tour's media guide, Barron lists his biggest thrill in golf as being paired with former world number one Fred Couples and fellow American Craig Stadler for the final round of his first event on the 1997 PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour launched its anti-doping programme in July last year and said, in the event of a positive doping test, it would disclose details only after the entire appeals and challenges process was completed.

The variety of sanctions could include disqualification, a one-year suspension for a first violation, up to five years for a second violation and a lifetime ban for multiple violations, plus fines up to $500,000 (305,000 pounds).

The National Centre for Drug Free Sport administers testing on the PGA Tour virtually every week of the season with all samples analysed by WADA-accredited laboratories.

World Anti-Doping Agency officials were not available for comment late on Monday.

Reuters