Vijay Singh admitted to using deer antler spray just as reports came out that the golfer had to pull out of the Phoenix Open due to injuries.
According to the Associated Press, Singh withdrew from the tournament on Thursday due to a back injury. The move comes one day after he admitted to using deer antler spray and saying that he was "absolutely shocked" that it may contain a banned substance.
The news was first reported that the 49-year-old Fijian had been using the substance in a Sports Illustrated report that came out on Tuesday about a supplement and deer antler spray company that a number of high-profile athletes, including Ray Lewis, Singh, Johnny Damon and Alabama Crimson Tide players as users of the product.
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Singh acknowledged that he did use the spray, but released a statement saying that he had no idea it was banned.
''While I have used deer-antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy,'' Singh said in the statement. "In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer-antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position. I have been in contact with the PGA Tour and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time.''
According to Sports Illustrated, Singh paid S.W.A.T.S $9,000 for a variety of products and acknowledged using the banned spray "every couple of hours."
"I'm looking forward to some change in my body," Singh told the magazine. "It's really hard to feel the difference if you're only doing it for a couple of months."
From the Sports Illustrated report: "Singh, however, remains a vocal supporter. In November, Singh paid Ross $9,000 for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive -- making him one of the few athletes who is compensating S.W.A.T.S. He says he uses the spray banned by the PGA "every couple of hours . . . every day," sleeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders. "I'm looking forward to some change in my body," Singh says. "It's really hard to feel the difference if you're only doing it for a couple of months."
PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said the tour is ''looking into the matter.''
''I know that it's obviously illegal, whatever it is,'' Masters champion Bubba Watson said. ''It sounds like something I would never want near me. ... I don't even know how you take deer-antler spray.
''It's sad that people live and die by their sport and they have to, I guess, cheat and go around it and try to better themselves with deer-antler spray. I'm not just going to take something and ask questions later. I'm not going to take deer antler-spray and find out what it is later. ... I think we should check them for mental problems if they're taking deer-antler spray. That's kind of weird.'
Singh has won 34 PGA Tour titles, but none since 2008. He has won three major championshiips and his biggest penalty during his career was when he was suspended from the Asian Tour for two years for altering his scorecard during a tournament in Indonesia.
According to the Associated Press, "Doug Barron is the only player to be suspended under the tour's anti-doping policy, missing part of 2009 and most of 2010. The one-year suspension was lifted in September 2010, and Barron was granted a therapeutic use exemption for low testosterone."
Ray Lewis adamantly denied using the substance, although the owner of the company says he has a recording of the Ravens linebacker asking him for products.
