Dustin Johnson banned 6 months
— -- The PGA Tour has suspended Dustin Johnson for six months after he tested positive for cocaine, according to a report on Golf.com.
Citing a source, Golf.com reported that Johnson has failed three drug tests -- two for cocaine (in 2014 and 2012) and one for marijuana (2009).
Johnson, 30, was suspended for the 2012 failed test, Golf.com reported, but that suspension was never made public. Under its guidelines, the PGA Tour is not required to announce any disciplinary actions against players who test positive for recreational drugs.
Johnson announced Thursday that he was taking a leave of absence from competition, effective immediately, for "personal challenges."
"I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced," he said in a statement issued by his management company. "By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion."
The PGA Tour released a statement Thursday wishing Johnson well. On Friday, executive vice president Ty Votaw said the tour would have no further comment.
Not surprisingly, speculation has been rampant, and on Friday afternoon Votaw responded to a request for comment from ESPN.
"In regard to the report in golf.com, the PGA Tour does not comment on rumors and speculation," he said.
Johnson will miss next week's PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as the FedEx Cup playoffs.
His biggest sponsor, TaylorMade-adidas, also would not comment.
"TaylorMade-adidas Golf will not comment on allegations," the company said in a statement. "We support Dustin Johnson's decision to temporarily step away from the PGA Tour."
Johnson played the Cadillac Championship in March 2012 and then did not play again until the Memorial in late May. He said then he was not playing because he'd injured his back lifting a jet ski. But Golf.com's source says Johnson was actually serving a suspension for failing a drug test for cocaine. At the time, the tour had no official comment, and Johnson's agent denied that the player had been suspended.
Information from ESPN's Mark Schwarz and Darren Rovell is included in this report.
Related Stories
ABC News Live