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PGA Tour to begin blood testing with 2017-18 season

The PGA Tour has announced significant changes to its anti-doping program beginning next season, including the introduction of blood testing and the public disclosure of suspensions for recreational drug violations.

The Tour currently tests players via urine, and while that will remain the "predominant method," players will also be subjected to blood testing beginning with the 2017-18 season that kicks off in October. Certain substances, including Human Growth Hormone, cannot be detected in urine but would show up in blood testing.

The Tour will also revise its list of banned substances to include "all of the substances and methods" currently prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency while adding three new categories of medication to its "therapeutic use exemption" list.