A local sport to be represented for the first time at next month's Pan American Games has been rocked by controversy -- and could rob the Bermuda contingent of one of its top participants.

Karate, which only recently earned the recognition of Bermuda Olympic Association, is at the centre of a dispute with top martial artist Gladwin (Roots) Phillips threatening to pull out over "improper team selection''.

Phillips' gripe appears to be with Bermuda Martial Arts Society (BMAS) president Dwayne Williams, who he has accused of "acting to divide and weaken karate in Bermuda''.

He claimed Williams showed disrespect by forwarding his name for selection without his permission and also showed disrespect for Phillips' sensei, Skipper Ingham and the historic role that Ingham's dojo, the Bermuda Karate Institute, has played in karate in Bermuda.

Phillips said the BMAS team for the Pan-Am Games was not properly selected because Ingham, who is a member of the BMAS technical committee, was not consulted in the selection process.

"Skipper Ingham is a member of the BMAS technical committee because he was invited to be a member in 1993 and has never resigned,'' Phillips wrote in a letter dated February 12, which he sent to BOA president Austin Woods and copied to Sports Minister Pamela Gordon.

"We understand you intend to call Mr. Ingham early in the week to arrange a meeting regarding the selection of the BMAS karate team for the Pan-Am Games.

Prior to that meeting we wish to bring the following to your attention.

"When the 1994 elections were held, he (Ingham) declined any position on the executive -- he did not relinquish his service on the technical committee. The technical committee is appointed for an indefinite period, it is not elected annually. Since the executive neither informed him that he was considered no longer a part of the technical committee nor consulted him in the selection process, the team selection is invalid,'' Phillips insisted.

"The criteria of selection has never been stated or published to the membership of BMAS, a fact which again invalidates the team as currently stated.'' Phillips, who carried off the 66 kilogram title at the World Karate Championships in Buenos Aires last October and could be a key member of the first karate team in the Pan-Am Games, feels his name has been used prominently by the BMAS in order to justify the whole team selection.

"...But some of the other members of the team have no international credentials for 1994 -- or any other year -- which would justify their selection ahead of at least three individuals who were omitted from consideration.'' The letter continued: "The BMAS was incorrect in approaching Mr. Phillips directly rather than through Mr. Ingham, who is his coach and instructor. The BMAS did not in fact invite Mr. Phillips to participate and obtain an acceptance from him.

"They published his name without his approval or authorisation. When this was pointed out to BMAS president Mr Dwayne Williams, instead of apologising or trying to correct the mistake, he stated categorically that Mr. Phillips' being on the BMAS team `had nothing to do with BKI'.

"There is a great concern within the Bermuda Karate Institute over the contempt shown it by the current executive of the BMAS over the past several years.

"The current executive of BMAS, principally Mr. Dwayne Williams, is acting to divide and weaken karate in Bermuda, rather than unify it and represent the country's best in the Pan-Am Games. Because Mr. Williams disrespected Mr.

Phillips by publishing his name without permission and showed disrespect for Mr. Ingham and the historic role of BKI in bypassing them when naming Mr.

Phillips to their team, we intend to request that Mr. Williams resign as president of BMAS.

"In light of the fact that Mr. Ingham introduced karate to Bermuda and has constantly worked to benefit and improve karate in Bermuda and abroad, we feel that the situations created by this attitude should be corrected by recognising Mr. Ingham as a permanent member of the BMAS technical advisory committee.'' The letter concluded: "The purpose of attending the Pan-Am Games is to benefit the athletes, the sport and the discipline of karate in Bermuda and to represent the best of Bermuda abroad. None of these aims will be satisfied if the discrepancies above are not corrected. Mr. Phillips declines to be a part of the BMAS team under the direction of Mr. Dwayne Williams.'' Williams declined comment when contacted yesterday.

The five member karate team for the Argentina trip also includes Eugene Ford of the Bak-sil-lum, Roger Trimm of Bermuda Shotokan, Nigel Williams of JKA (Bermuda) and Bobby Smith of Traditional Academy of Martial Arts (TAMA).