WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- American golfer Doug Barron's request to lift a 12-month ban for doping was denied by a federal judge on Monday.

Barron became the first golfer banned for using performance-enhancing drugs earlier this month. The PGA Tour suspended Barron for a year.

The 40-year-old 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 heart problem.

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.

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.

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