Plans for drug testing to be introduced at The Open to have been abandoned by the tournament organisers.

Testing is scheduled to start on the European and American PGA tours in July, but the Royal and Ancient Club (R&A) said testing at The Open will now start in 2009.

R&A took the decision as some qualifiers take place in countries which do not have the same education programme as Europe and America.

"We played a leading role in the development of a policy of which we are very proud," said the R&A's chief executive, Peter Dawson.

"But it is very important that players understand what it is about and given that quite a number of players do not play on the PGA or European Tours we decided that it will not start at The Open this year.

"But we very much hope and intend to start next year. If The Open was in October we would probably be drug-testing this year.

"I think we have a pretty good record at taking the lead in drug-testing.

"We made a big contribution towards its introduction and I think our record in this area stands scrutiny."


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