Paulina Gretzky's Fiancé, Dustin Johnson, Suspended From PGA Tour for 6 Months After Testing Positive for Cocaine: Report

Athlete announced leave of absence Thursday, citing "personal challenges"

By Natalie Finn Aug 01, 2014 10:03 PMTags
Paulina Gretzky, Dustin JohnsonMichael Buckner/AMA2013/Getty Images for DCP

Dustin Johnson is going to be needing all the support he can get from his loved ones.

The 30-year-old golfer, who's been engaged to Paulina Gretzky since last summer, has been suspended from the PGA Tour for six months after testing positive for cocaine, according to Golf.com.

The news comes a day after Johnson announced that he was taking time off from the pro circuit to "seek professional help for personal challenges."

He did not specify what those challenges were, but per the report, he has failed three drug tests since 2009, testing positive for marijuana five years ago and then for cocaine in 2012 and again this year.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

"I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced," he said in a statement obtained by ESPN. "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."

Per Golf.com, he was also suspended in 2012 but that was never made public because the PGA Tour is not required to report test results involving what are considered recreational drugs.

"In regard to the report in Golf.com, the PGA Tour does not comment on rumors and speculation," PGA Tour executive vice president Ty Votaw told ESPN.

Johnson has eight PGA Tour titles. His best major finish was second place in the 2011 British Open. He tied for fourth at the U.S. Open in June.

He and Gretzky, daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, got engaged last August and she appeared on the cover of Golf Digest in April.

According to the New York Post, Paulina deleted a pic of them in which he appears to be helping her line up a putt that was captioned "Best Caddy Ever. @djohnsonpga" sometime after Johnson pulled out of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational earlier this week.

But there are still lots of pics of the couple together, including from his 30th birthday celebration posted a couple of weeks ago.

"Good luck today baby!! Love you @djohnsonpga," she captioned one of the couple gazing lovingly at each other as she's presenting him with a birthday cake.

And Johnson posted two weeks ago, too, a pic of him kissing a bikini-clad Gretzky on a boat.

"Best b-day ever! I love you @paulinagretzky," he wrote.