Doping-U.S. judge nixes golfer Barron's bid to lift Tour ban

CHICAGO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday denied American golfer Doug Barron's request to lift a 12-month ban for a doping violation, saying it would be unfair on other golfers trying to qualify for next year's events.

Barron, a 40-year-old journeyman on the U.S. PGA and Nationwide tours, gained unwanted fame when he became the first golfer banned for using performance-enhancing drugs earlier this month. The PGA Tour suspended Barron for a year, but did not name the drug.

The American had filed a lawsuit against the PGA Tour to overturn the ban, which he said was unfair because it was based on legally-prescribed drugs he had been taking for a disability.

Judge Tu M. Pham of the U.S. District Court in Memphis, Tennessee, denied Barron's request for a temporary injunction and said to permit the golfer to play in a tournament this week might unfairly knock out other players seeking to qualify for next year's events.

"If Barron does not prevail at trial, these other players ... would have been denied the chance to compete in PGA Tour events in 2010," the judge said in his ruling.

Pham also said allowing Barron to play "could raise substantial public policy concerns regarding the enforcement of anti-doping policies in professional sports."

PGA Tour officials said they were pleased with the decision in a statement but declined further comment.

Barron's attorney Jeffrey Rosenblum said the decision was "a huge blow", but the case was not over.

Earlier this month, the PGA Tour, which declined to name the banned substance, issued a statement it said was from Barron in which he apologised for violating the anti-doping policy.

But the golfer later said in court documents that the ban was unfair and he had been defamed. He said he had been weaning himself from a prescribed beta-blocker used for a heart problem under doctor's orders.

He also said he had been prescribed testosterone because he had an abnormally low level of the hormone.

The PGA Tour, in its reply to Barron's suit, said its anti-doping policy followed standard protocols that do not allow for exemptions for players with low testosterone levels.

Barron, who turned professional in 1992, had played eight full seasons on the PGA Tour, most recently in 2006. His best finish was a tie for third at the 2005 Byron Nelson Championship.

(Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)