The Sport Minister yesterday voiced alarm at revelations one of the `Miami Seven' faced a heroin allegation in Bermuda.

And the Hon. Pamela Gordon had a blunt response to the question whether the player should have represented Bermuda.

"No way in hell!'' she told The Royal Gazette .

She added: "I feel that with something like that he should have had to clear his name before being allowed to represent his Country.

"If charged, and this is only my opinion and I don't have all the facts, he should not have been allowed to go unless and until he was clear.'' This week The Royal Gazette revealed the player was due to appear in Magistrates' Court on December 6 for allegedly possessing heroin.

But the hearing was postponed so he could play in the qualifying tournament.

The Bermuda Football Association has denied claims it applied pressure to get the hearing put off.

Ms Gordon accepted there was a presumption the players were innocent, but added: "It is essential the right signals be sent if Bermuda is serious about fighting drugs.'' She went on to call for the BFA to hurry up in presenting her with a report on the Miami bust.

Ms Gordon said it was difficult to say what lessons could be learned until the report hit her desk. "I don't have all facts before me, and I hope the report comes soon. It had better.

"Only then will we be able to see what, if anything, needs to be done, and why or if the BFA fell short.'' Ms Gordon went on to answer criticism that Government was not represented when the Under-23 squad returned from Jamaica after qualifying for the Pan-Am Games finals.

She said qualifying for a tournament did not merit any official fanfare.

"The reality is that part of the problem we have here is that we've been out of international competition and people don't understand proper protocol,'' she said.

"There should be no official representation for qualifying. Qualifying should not be held at the same level as performing in the finals.

"It is not the same thing as Brian Wellman winning the bronze medal. That would merit going to the Airport.

"If the guys had gone to the Pan-Am finals and come back with something like a silver or bronze medal then there would need to be a regimental band to welcome them back.

"Bermuda is not used to international competition and most Bermudians don't understand proper protocol.'' Ms Gordon said she did not attend the Airport because she had been at a BFA meeting that night and had to catch an early morning flight the next day.

Earlier, Ms Gordon announced in the House of Assembly that Government intended bringing in drug testing for all its athletes taking part at the domestic level.

This would ensure their "personal well being and the optimum opportunity for representation'' at the national and international level.

"To that end the Government will meet in the coming weeks to determine a plan of action to implement such a proposal.

"One idea is to set up a committee of senior sporting executives to make recommendations to the Government as to what substances to be tested for, the mechanics of the testing procedure, and what programmes must be implemented to assist any athlete testing positive.

"These are but a few of the ideas that will be looked at and as soon as more information is available, I will report to the Honourable House.'' Ms Gordon said the events in Miami had highlighted a significant problem existing within the community.

"The issue for the Government is the use and/or abuse of illicit drugs by the member of sporting organisations receiving Government funding.

"Having just returned from the General Assembly of National Olympic Committees held in Atlanta, Georgia, doping control was a relevant and germane segment of the meeting.'' Athletes must be tested "I had the opportunity to visit the doping control centre where banned substances were displayed and a list supplied of banned performance enhancing drugs.

"It was also clarified that drug testing for banned substances in sport relating to performance enhancement will be carried out by National Olympic Committees -- in the case of Bermuda, the Bermuda Olympic Association.

"Any athlete chosen to represent Bermuda at the international level is subject to the relevant rules and regulations outlined to their governing bodies of sport. This regulation is distinctly separate and apart from the issue of illicit drugs in sport in Bermuda.

"The Government must implement some method of testing for all of its athletes participating at the domestic level to ensure their personal well being and the optimum opportunity for representation at the national and international level.''