Drugs cheats are almost certain to face a blanket ban from all professional golf tours, rather than just the one where the offence occurs. That was the clear message when the sport's major governing organisations revealed details today of the process being undertaken in readiness for testing to start next year.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Club at St Andrews, described it as "terrific" that the bodies have come together on the subject.

"I have said many times that the R&A has no reason to believe that golf is anything other than a clean sport, but we have been part of a co-ordinated effort to demonstrate that our sport is clean and that we can keep it that way," he said.

"It is terrific that all the bodies have come together and we will have a great deal of consistency. This is a very good day for golf."

Gary Player put the subject back into the headlines during the Open in July by stating his opinion that "at least 10 players and maybe more are on something".

That claim was instantly disputed by leading players and officials, but by then the sport had already decided to formulate a policy of testing.

While initially throwing doubt on the need for such a move, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said recently: "I think we're at a point where, to maintain confidence in the public and the fans, we have to take this step.

"Whether we like it or not, or whether we think 98 per cent of the public have confidence in our players, we still have to take steps. We have the best image in professional sports and it's maybe more important to our sport than other sports because it affects the marketing of our sport."

George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, said today: "It's so good that we have a co-ordinated policy and not one tour going its own sweet way."

The announcement was made by Finchem, who believes testing will be ready to start there (on the PGA Tour) "sometime in the late spring".

Whether that will be in time for the US Masters to be the first major championship where testing takes place remains to be seen.

Jim Armstrong, executive director of the Augusta National Club, commented: "We will look at the entire issue before determining how it will proceed."

On the possibility of worldwide bans Finchem stated: "We would like to co-ordinate this on a global basis, that if a player is disciplined or suspended that action will be recognised out of reciprocity since players travel and play on multiple tours."

The policy is being formulated in two phases.

The first phase, which has been completed, encompasses the development of a list of prohibited substances, which comprises anabolic agents, hormones and related substances, agents with anti-oestrogenic activity, diuretics and other masking agents, stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, beta blockers, enhancement of oxygen transfer, chemical and physical manipulation.

The second phase of the policy, which is anticipated to be completed prior to the end of this year, will include general standards for all the fundamental elements of an anti-doping programme for golf organisations that become signatories to the policy, including medical waiver procedures testing protocols, results management, penalties, sanctions and reciprocity of outcomes.

Other leading golf organisations involved in the announcement include the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), who had already stated they would begin testing at the start of next year, the PGA of America, the United States Golf Association and the tours in Asia, Australasia, Canada, Japan, southern Africa and South America.

Player education on the prohibited substance list, which does not follow in its entirety that of the World Anti-Doping Agency, is said to be "ongoing", while an anti-doping office of the World Golf Foundation will be created in 2008.

That office will co-ordinate and share information with golf organisations with respect to medical waiver procedures and therapeutic use exemptions under the policy.