many as nine others may have refused to take the test is the sternest challenge that the Island's drugs in sports policy has faced to date.

The controversy could leave the national team severely weakened and has led to questions as to why top athletes are being singled out for testing for illegal drugs when other community leaders are not.

Walton Brown, who has conducted a number of surveys on drug use in the schools, questioned over the weekend why athletes are tested for illegal drugs which do not enhance performance.

There is no dispute about performance enhancing drugs; it is widely accepted that they have no place in sport, which is supposed to test the limits to which the human body can go -- not the limits to which chemicals can take the human body.

But testing for illegal drugs, such as marijuana, which may well reduce performance, are in another category.

Here testing takes place because the community believes they have no place in sports for which people receive Government money, and in this case represent their Country.

Furthermore, it is argued that sporting leaders are role models and examples to other young people. If it can be shown that high standards in sports can be achieved without the assistance of drugs, then this will be a tremendous weapon in the armoury of those who fight drugs and the terrible effect they have on the community.

No right thinking person should disagree with this idea.

This is not to say that those who fall into the trap of drugs use should only be punished. The policy against drugs use clearly offers sportsmen and women assistance and allows them to represent their Country when it can be shown that they are clean.

There will be those in all sports who will say that they would prefer to continue to use drugs rather than represent their Country. So be it. But they should not complain that they are being denied the opportunity to wear a Bermuda shirt when they have made their choice.

But it does seem unfair that athletes should be made to carry the burden of being role models when people representing the Island in other spheres of life are not held to the same standards.

Surely the Island's legislators, who have been vocal in their support of the policy, should submit to regular testing, as should judges. lawyers (who are officers of the courts) and Police officers. This would send the right message to the young that you can be successful in all spheres of life without using drugs.