Mark Hensby isn’t exactly a household name, but the Australian journeyman is a winner on the PGA Tour and a three-time champion on the Web.com Tour. Unfortunately, those victories will likely only be a footnote in his golfing history after the PGA Tour suspended Hensby for one year due to a violation of its anti-doping policy.
The 46-year-old didn’t test positive for any performance-enhancing drugs. In fact, he didn’t test for anything at all, which violates the policy and resulted in a year-long suspension.
Disappointing news for Australian golfer Mark Hensby. pic.twitter.com/U3Jqv6nV5t
— Luke Elvy (@Luke_Elvy) December 11, 2017
Golfweek.com’s Brentley Romine and Bill Speros had more information on the suspension.
Pro golfer Mark Hensby, who was suspended for one year by the PGA Tour after he failed provide a drug testing sample, said Wednesday he made “an error in judgement” that “had nothing to do with taking a banned substance.”
Hensby, who won the 2004 John Deere Classic, issued a statement in which he details the events of Oct. 26 that let up to his ban.
“Call me stupid but don’t call me a cheater. I love the game. I love the integrity it represents. And I would never compromise the values and qualities the game deserves.”
He writes that he opted not to take a urine test after his final round at the Sanderson Farms PGA Tour event in “a moment of anger and frustration” thinking “it was just time to retire from golf.”
He was prepared to take a blood test, he writes, but had recently urinated and would not have been able to produce another urine sample for “at least a couple more hours.”
Just off phone with Hensby, who reiterated “no concern whatsoever” that he would’ve failed test if he took it. Called year ban “a long time” but understands rules. Doesn’t know what he will do from here. “Still shocked. Been a tough month.”
— Brian Wacker (@brianwacker1) December 12, 2017
Statement from @HensbyMark on being suspended 1 year by @PGATOUR for violating anti-doping policy … pic.twitter.com/4eF742KViv
— Brian Wacker (@brianwacker1) December 12, 2017
He hopes “people would understand the professional pain and turmoil that I have been experiencing for nearly a decade.”
Hensby, 46, will be eligible to return on Oct. 26, 2018, and the Tour offered no further comment on his suspension after its announcement.
“I made a terrible decisions to not stay around that evening to take the urine test. (I was fully prepared to take a blood because it is quick). However my emotions got the better of me. Obviously in hindsight I should have been more patient, more rational and taken the test.”
The Australian is currently ranked No. 1,623 in the Official World Golf Ranking and made just two PGA Tour starts in 2016-17, missing the cut in each event. (He also was disqualified from this fall’s Sanderson Farms Championship.) He teed it up 14 times last season on the Web.com Tour, making five cuts.
Hensby is the fourth player that the PGA Tour has publicly suspended for violating its anti-doping policy, joining Doug Barron, Bhavik Patel and Scott Stallings.
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