The Saudi-backed breakaway league’s anti-doping policy was broken by Graeme McDowell, who was subsequently suspended for one LIV Golf event and forced to find a replacement.
Graeme McDowell has been replaced by LIV Golf for their upcoming tournament in West Virginia. McDowell was suspended after testing positive for a substance that was on the prohibited list.
Using levo-methamphetamine as a nasal spray to relieve congestion, McDowell tested positive for the drug during the LIV Golf Nashville event at The Grove. He was not aware that the drug would be prohibited. He is now the first player in League of Legends to be suspended for breaking the anti-doping policy.
This weekend is the start of the tournament, and American journeyman John Catlin will be the one to step in for McDowell for the Smash GV team. This is a last-minute substitution, according to Bunkered.co.uk.
Following the announcement that his test was positive, McDowell used social media to provide an explanation for his actions.
McDowell posted a statement on X stating, “I was struggling with severe congestion that was affecting my sleep ahead of LIV Nashville.” “I used a generic Vick’s nasal decongestant in an attempt to manage it, not realizing it might be on the banned list.”
He will lose out on approximately £100,000 in playing time as a result of his suspension, in addition to the £97,000 he was fined for testing positive.
The league has suspended Smash GC’s Graeme McDowell for one tournament after learning that he broke the anti-doping policy during LIV Golf Nashville by using a decongestant medication that contained the prohibited substance R-methamphetamine (levo-methamphetamine).” McDowell will not be able to play at the forthcoming LIV Golf Greenbrier, which is scheduled to begin on August 16.
As a result, and in compliance with the Policy, the player’s and team’s results for LIV Golf Nashville will be disqualified (with prize money and points retroactively adjusted), and a one-tournament suspension, effective at LIV Golf Greenbrier, will be imposed along with a $125,000 fine.
McDowell is a member of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC team, and Catlin will replace him. Catlin has experience competing in LIV Golf tournaments as a reserve player. Playing in Nashville, where McDowell tested positive, Catlin secured his best finish of T7, taking Charles Howell III’s place on Bryson DeChambeau’s team.
So far, in his four LIV Golf appearances, he has made over £1.3 million. In place of McDowell, Catlin might aim to secure a full-time spot on the LIV Golf Tour for the 2025 season with another strong performance.
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