organisations to attend an anti-drug forum next weekend.

The meeting will give the groups a chance "to develop solutions to the problems of drug abuse in sport'', Ms Gordon said.

It will also be the first of several designed to allow sporting bodies and clubs to discuss the recently-released board of inquiry report on drug use in local soccer and to address the "serious vexing problem of drug abuse in sport in Bermuda'', she added.

The soccer board of inquiry, chaired by the Hon. Sir John Sharpe, followed the arrest in Miami last year of seven members of Bermuda's Under-23 soccer team on drug charges.

Government released its response to the report during the last session of the House of Assembly.

And Ms Gordon said the House would consider the report in the autumn.

In the meantime, she said she planned to meet with sporting organisations to get their opinions on the report.

The first meeting will be held on July 29 from 8.30 a.m. to noon in the lecture theatre of Bermuda College's Stonington campus.

A representative from the board of inquiry will be on hand to provide a synopsis of its work and Ms Gordon will present Government's response to the report.

The Sports Ministry said it was also looking for feedback from participants and would offer some options for the sporting organisations and clubs to consider.

Noting there were 43 sporting organisations and more than 20 sports clubs registered locally, Ms Gordon stressed: "We must eradicate drugs from sport.

This meeting will assist greatly in achieving this goal.

"I am looking forward to a good turnout at the forum so that we can solve this problem together.'' Anyone interested in participating in the meeting should register with the Youth and Sport Ministry by Monday.