Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority has carried out more than 1,500 tests under its illicit drugs programme since January 1, 2013.

According to Bsada there have been just four positive results, all for marijuana, out of the 1,706 that it performed.

In response to a Pati request from The Royal Gazette, Bsada revealed that it had also carried out 169 tests for performance-enhancing drugs in the same period, with no adverse analytical findings. There, were, however three missed filings, and two missed tests recorded for athletes who are required to submit quarterly reports about their whereabouts.

This is normally required from elite athletes competing at a high level.

Some 77 performance enhancing tests took place at 14 club level sporting events, with the national championships for athletics, gymnastics, swimming, triathlon, cycling and bodybuilding among that number.

There were no positive results recorded, nor where there any during the 59 out of competition tests Bsada carried out.

For the performance-enhancing tests, samples have been sent to World Anti-Doping Authority accredited laboratories in Britain, Canada, Germany, South Africa and the United States, with testing for illicit drugs taking place locally. As per Wada directive, the tested samples are kept for eight years at the Wada laboratory.

Financially Bsada is supported by a Government grant, which for the 2016 fiscal year is $650,000, down from the $750,000 in 2015. Of that, $234,000, or 36 per cent, is to be allocated to the performance-enhancing programme, $143,000, which is 22 per cent, will be spent on the illicit drugs programme, with the remaining $273,000 set aside to pay for administration costs.

There are five full-time staff, headed by Deborah Hunter, the chief executive, with Bsada also employing 11 doping control team members, who have to be recertified every two years.