Deer in headlights!
Vijay Singh, known for his intense work ethic on the golf course and in the gym, is one of the athletes who have used a banned substance from a two-man company run in the back of a gym in Alabama called S.W.A.T.S. — Sports With Alternatives to Steroids, according to a fascinating Sports Illustrated story.
Christopher Key and Mitch Ross sell products like deer antler spray, hologram chips and “negatively charged” water that claim to help enhance an athlete’s performance. The deer antler spray contains IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor), a “natural anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth,” which is banned by the NCAA and every major pro league.
Among the athletes named in the article is Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who reportedly used the product to help heal his torn triceps. At Super Bowl media day in New Orleans on Tuesday, Lewis refused to address the SI story.
The PGA Tour and MLB warned its players in 2011 that the deer antler spray, which is advertised as containing banned IGF-1, was implicated in a positive drug test. Mark Calcavecchia was also told to stop promoting the product.
However, Vijay Singh, who turns 50 next month, admitted to SI that he uses S.W.A.T.S. products:
(Vijay 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.”)
It may not start and end with Singh, either — though this was around two years ago:
The chips and spray also had recently begun to spread through golf after a friend with whom Ross sold Christmas trees introduced him to a PGA caddie. In short order, Ross says, the caddie “was passing me around the golf world like a prostitute.”
According to GolfChannel.com, Ty Votaw, the Tour’s czar of communications and international affairs, declined comment, but he did say, “We were just made aware of the report and are looking into it.
“While IGF-1 is on the Tour’s banned-substances list, Votaw confirmed that, like many other professional sports leagues, the circuit does not test for either IGF-1 or HGH. ‘We have not determined a reliable test for it,’ Votaw said.”
Singh is known for his somewhat absurd practice schedule and intense workout program. He’s been plagued with injuries the last few years, but in 2011 he went to Germany for a back procedure, which is not legal or practiced in the U.S. Singh, who isn’t known to be the most press-friendly player, has not yet been reached for comment.
Now does this stuff actually work? The SI story presents both sides, including testimonials from NFL players, but remains a skeptical tone. And of course, S.W.A.T.S. will tell you: “This stuff is beyond real.”
Geoff Shackelford dug up this beauty:
I hate to admit that I’m kind of intrigued and curious as to the products’ validity.
Hmmmm, love Vijay but……once a cheater always a cheater. On another note anyone seem to notice how much smaller and leaner Tiger appears this year, he used to be huge in the chest and now he looks way skinnier.
Everyday a new Item is added to the Banned list..who can keep up. Vijay a cheater that’s way to ‘thick’.obviously this did not help him make more Putts.
IGF-1 delivered orally does not deliver any performance enhancing results, so either they are covering something else up that they’re taking or lying about the way they are taking it. As far as whether deer antler velvet even boosts IGF-1 levels enough to enhance performance, most scientific studies suggest that it doesn’t help. It’s been around for a long time and really hasn’t caught on, so that should tell you something as well. I would be more interested to see if SWATS is advertising a product as deer antler velvet that is actually laced with something that would enhance performance to a greater degree…
I just don’t think I’d feel real confident with (or take) any medical/scientific product from someone whose previous job was selling christmas trees
Something isn’t right about this…Vijay is not a stupid man and most of the time isn’t very forthcoming with the media. I doubt that he would TALK about taking something that has been openly banned by the PGA Tour. It just makes no sense. I wonder if Vijay will address the speculation publicly.
It sounds like many players are taking it, also.
I see no reason to get really down on Vijay at this point. He’s one of the best golfers of the last 15 years, and although people bring up the cheating thing in Asia over and over again (even though many of them probably don’t know the facts of the situation), one cannot argue that Vijay has accomplished an enormous amount through talent and hard work, and was the first player to de-throne Tiger from the #1 spot of the OWGR (something not even Phil has done).
Let’s see how it unfolds before throwing Vijay under the bus.
Being a 44 year old and fighting golfer’s elbow for 3 years, I can see how an older golfer would take wierd things to not hurt. Playing hurt sucks.
That being said, if he broke the rules, he should be punished some way.
a reporter should ask him if he would test positive for it today and if so he should WD this week, how is this different from tiger breaking a rule in Abu, not knowing the rules shouldn’t excuse Vijay from punishment
Nothing to see here – move along.
Can’t stand Vijay, couldn’t have happened to a ‘better’ guy.
http://wp.me/p32cTD-1T