PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Byeong Hun An has been suspended for violating the PGA Tour’s anti-doping policy because of a banned substance found in cough medicine sold over the counter in South Korea.
The PGA Tour announced the three-month suspension Wednesday and said the 32-year-old An cooperated during the process and accepted his suspension.
He is believed to be the eighth player suspended since the PGA Tour began drug testing in 2008, and the first since Matt Every in 2019.
“In August, I was suffering from a head cold and cough. As my symptoms worsened, my mother suggested I take a widely available medication from Korea that had helped her through a similar ailment,” An wrote in an Instagram story.
“I took this medicine without checking its contents first, only to later find that it contained a substance that is prohibited under the PGA Tour’s anti-doping program. It was the only time I used this medication and in no way did I take it to gain a competitive advantage. I regret not being more thorough in my decision-making and take full responsibility for my actions. I’d like to thank the PGA Tour for supporting me during this process and look forward to returning to competition in the new year.
An finished 44th in the FedEx Cup this year, so he is qualified for all of the $20 million signature events in 2024. The suspension is retroactive to Aug. 31, meaning he will be eligible to return on Dec. 1.
He has not played since the BMW Championship in August. The FedEx Cup fall swing is primarily for players trying to secure their PGA Tour cards for next season.
An, who at 17 became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion in 2009 at Southern Hills, has yet to win on the PGA Tour. He won the European tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, in 2015. He played in the Presidents Cup in 2019 in Australia.
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