Updated on Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 14:11 IST Tags:WADA

Los Angeles: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has applauded the steps taken by golf to combat doping but believes more could be done to achieve full transparency in its policing.

Little-known American Doug Barron on Monday became the first golfer to receive a ban for taking a performance-enhancing drug.

The PGA Tour has suspended the player for a year but, in line with its own anti-doping policy, did not name the drug.

"This case shows no sport is immune to doping," WADA president John Fahey said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Golf is moving in the right direction as relates to the fight against doping in sport. The PGA Tour anti-doping programme is based in large part on the global rules promulgated in the World Anti-Doping Code."

"Now the PGA (Tour) could go even further to achieve full compliance with the Code by not keeping details of anti-doping rule violations confidential and providing WADA with a right of appeal for decisions made in relation to anti-doping rule violations."

"WADA is confident this can be achieved in the near future," Fahey added.

The PGA Tour launched its anti-doping programme in July last year after liaising with the other major golf tours and governing bodies around the world.

In the event of a positive doping test, the Tour said 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 USD 500,000.

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

Bureau Report