Els supports anti-doping policy

Independant Online, South Africa, 5 October 2007

Ernie Els says he fully agrees with the policy of drug testing in golf, which is set to begin on both the PGA Tour and European Tour in 2008.

"It had to be brought in and I'm for it," the world number five said after his second round on the Old Course in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Friday.

"To have golf at the same level as other sports, it had to be brought in and it's fine. I'm sure nothing will be found. If something is found, we'll look at it.

"But I'm sure the guys know what they can and can't take. I'm sure an Advil is still fine. But I guess taking steroids, well, I think we all know you shouldn't take that or even other drugs.

"It will be interesting to see what comes out of it. But you know, just to keep it clean and make sure that golf is the gentleman's game that it is, that's fine."

Els said he had spoken to countryman Gary Player following Player's comments at the British Open about the effect of performance-enhancing drugs in golf.

Player was criticised in some quarters for saying he knew of golfers who were taking performance-enhancing drugs, but refused to divulge their names.

"Obviously we were together all week [during the Presidents Cup] and we had a couple of chats. Basically, he said that he made those comments to get where we are now. You know, the tours having agreed that there is some kind of a drug testing policy. We got a letter last week from the PGA Tour and from next year they will randomly test players.

"If you're taking something for whatever ailment you have, you've got to submit it to them and see if it's on the list or not. If it's on the list then you've got to get off it.

"That's basically what Gary meant, but it came out a little funny."