Bermuda's push to kick drugs out of sport could be used as a model by other countries around the world, one of the leading figures in the World Anti-Doping Agency has declared.

Casey Wade, WADA's director of education and planning, gave a ringing endorsement of the Island's stance on the issue and, in particular, the work of the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sport (BCDS).

Wade's comments come as he is preparing to give a keynote speech at this weekend's annual Sports Conference where he will speak to Sports Minister Dale Butler and members of the national sports governing bodies.

His visit is timely as Butler is preparing to recommend to Cabinet that the Island sign up to the World Anti-Doping Code.

The Code is the first document to harmonise regulations regarding anti-doping across all sports and all countries of the world and will provide a framework for anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sports organisations and among public authorities.

Every country has to sign on and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said if any fail to do so by 2006 they can expect to be banned from taking part in the Olympic Games.

Bermuda has already signalled its intent to come on board and within the next few weeks Butler will seek Cabinet approval.

Wade was instrumental in the early 90s in setting up Bermuda's current policy on drugs in sport through his role then within the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and worked with Government's current director of sport, Tony Roberts, Vaughan Mosher, managing director of testing agency Benedict Associates, then chairman of the BCDS Austin Woods and then sports minister Pamela Gordon.

Between then and now Bermuda has taken great strides, he said, to eradicate both recreational and performance-enhancing drugs from sport.

"Bermuda is one of the top countries, there is no doubt," he said. "We have worked long and hard with Bermuda over the years and I think the country is well established to comply with the Code and the requirements of it.

"Certainly, the national federations, because of the work that is being done there, would satisfy the requirements that are going to be imposed on them by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) through their international organisations."

Wade added: "I think Bermuda is a model programme for a lot of the Islands where there is illicit drug use within sport. I think the traditional doping free sport programmes for the elite athletes combined with the unique approach taken in Bermuda can serve as a model for other Islands and countries trying to deal with that issue as well."

Wade said Bermuda's policy had been relatively straightforward to adopt, the real issue being "one of people supporting the notion of having healthy and drug free sport at all levels."

"The issue has been what's a fair consequence for a positive finding? That has been at the heart of the issue ? Should it be rehab? Should you kick them out of sport? Should you give them warnings? Should you try and keep them in sport where you are developing a healthy sporting environment?," he said.

"With young kids, one argument is that (if you remove them) you kick them out of what is a good sporting environment. You are then just putting them in a situation where they are going to be more liable to take more drugs. Wouldn't sport keep them from taking drugs?

"You have to look at that balance."

Wade said his speech on Saturday at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess would cover the work of WADA, the Code and at its conclusion would offer the chance for those gathered to ask questions.

"I will look at what it means to Bermuda, in terms of of its current policy and programmes and what needs to be done amongst the national anti-doping organisation, the work that Vaughan Mosher is doing with the testing programme, what the Government itself is doing, what obligations and responsibilities the national federations have and what it means for athletes and so forth," he said.