their ill-fated Malaysia trip, The Royal Gazette can reveal today.

The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president stated on at least three occasions the players would be tested. These include: A January 24 Ministry of Sport "drug-free'' conference at Stonington Campus; A 1996 interview with The Royal Gazette , which appeared in the paper on February 15; and Another interview with The Royal Gazette , carried on November 8, 1996, in which he said of the Malaysia tour: "The Board will certainly be screening every player that it takes, because the penalties for drug convictions are very severe''.

One of those attending the January anti-drugs conference was Sport Minister David Dyer.

Last night he confirmed Mr. Bailey had told the conference players would receive drug tests.

"Yes, that's true,'' he said.

Asked why Mr. Bailey apparently went back on his word, he added: "The Ministry acts as a facilitator. Through an Act of Parliament we recognise the authority of all sports governing bodies and allow them freedom within their organisations.'' Dr. Dyer, however, believed it would have been "very wise'' for the players to have been tested before leaving for Malaysia.

The revelations about Mr. Bailey's pledges on drug testing seem set to increase pressure on him and the other BCBC members to step down.

He has been under fire after news at least two Bermuda cricketers were suspected of smoking pot in a room at the Crown Princess Hotel in Kuala Lumpur during the trip to Malaysia, where drug traffickers risk the death penalty.

The tournament saw Bermuda fail to qualify for the 1999 World Cup in England as Bangladesh, Kenya and Scotland clinched the three places up for grabs.

It has emerged the squad was not officially tested and searched before or after the tournament.

Last week Mr. Bailey said team coach Allan Douglas and captain Albert Steede were alerted to possible drug misuse by two other players who caught a whiff of what they believed to be marijuana smoke from a hotel bedroom.

Mr. Douglas and Mr. Steede then confronted two of the players over drug suspicions, but were met with denials, he added.

Mr. Bailey, who has been off the Island, said there was a possibility the marijuana came from a room occupied by non-Bermudian players.

Today The Royal Gazette reprints extracts from two 1996 interviews with Mr.

Bailey -- in both of which he pledges players would be drug tested before going overseas.

In February, 1996, Mr. Bailey said the issue of testing had been discussed with the squad.

He pointed out each member was required to fill out a form consenting to such a test, which would involve the use of hair follicles rather than urine specimens.

Editoral: Page 4 Bailey vowed to drug test cricket players Tests would look for the presence of marijuana and other illegal drugs, he added.

"These were the conditions when we invited them to train.'' Mr. Bailey was quoted as saying: "The invitation letter which they have signed and sent back to us made it clear that they would be made subject to drug testing before playing.

"It's mandatory, but it will be randomly carried out. They're all going to be tested and we discussed this on Saturday.

"I openly discussed it with them and I told them I'm not just going to push it on them, but am giving them sufficient warning to let them know that this is the policy.'' In the article, Mr. Bailey said he and his executive would also make themselves available for testing to set an example.

"I'm quite willing to submit myself and any member of our management team for testing. I think we in the administration must set an example and anybody who is using or dealing drugs then we certainly will not tolerate it.'' In November, 1996, The Royal Gazette carried an article about a player likely to lose his place in the squad for the Malaysia tour because of a marijuana conviction.

In it, Mr. Bailey said: "We have players who have extreme amounts of ability who have personal problems and these problems have nothing to do with the Board or even the Bermuda Government.

"The problems lie with the policies of foreign countries and when we have people selected to represent us in other countries and they don't qualify because they have transgressed immigration policies, that puts us in a difficult position.

"And I can tell you that in Kuala Lumpur it's almost like the Mid-East policy of Saudi Arabia. The Malaysian Cricket Association have emphasised that anyone with a drug conviction or who uses drugs will not be tolerated, that they have zero tolerance.

"The Board will certainly be screening every player that it takes...'' Mr. Bailey could not be reached for comment yesterday.

DRUGS DGS