The revelation that additional vials and pills were found on Wednesday in the motel room hosting the Chinese during the World Swimming Championships didn't surprise Richard Goodwin.

Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association assistant coach was in Perth, Australia, during the championships, along with the Island's two representatives, Stephen Fahy and Stephen Troake.

He was there when a Chinese swimmer was caught attempting to smuggle growth hormones into Australia. He was there when four other swimmers were banned after tests revealed a diuretic used to mask the presence of performance-enhancing drugs.

Now he hopes FINA, the sport's governing body, will take action.

"World swimming is at a watershed,'' said Goodwin, less than a day after arriving back in Bermuda from Australia.

Like other coaches, he had long heard rumours of wide-spread drug use among Chinese swimmers and seeing them up close did nothing to quash them.

"This time they've been caught red-handed,'' he said. "Hopefully there will be repercussions because it's important that FINA show they are serious about ridding the sport of drugs.

"Not just the Chinese, all nations must subscribe to that philosophy.'' Asked if the scandal cast a dark shadow over the sport, Goodwin said: "To some extent, yes.'' But, he added, Bermuda had escaped the microscope because of their low position on the world swimming ladder.

"Clearly, we're not at that level (of major swim nations). We went in, did what we had to and got out.'' What Troake and Fahy set out to do was get big-time experience and qualify for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in September. And in that regard, the trip was a huge success.

Troake, 17, qualified in two events; Fahy, 21, made it in three. Together, they will represent the core of what figures to be an eight-person Bermuda team in Malaysia.

In addition to their results, Goodwin hopes the two benefited by sheer osmosis. When they weren't preparing or resting, the three took in virtually all heats and finals during the competition.

"I think it was important they see what it really takes to compete in the finals,'' said Goodwin. `It's part of the learning process.'' It was especially so for Troake, a Saltus student at his first major meet (Fahy now attends Yale University and returned to classes immediately following the competition).

Goodwin said butterflies were a natural by-product of what was otherwise "a very positive experience'' for the pair.

"They were a little apprehensive stepping out on the same deck as (Victor) Popov and (Michael) Klim. Just seeing them in the flesh from 20 yards is really something.'' But the pair overcame the tension to set two national records, the 100-metre backstroke by Troake and 100m butterfly by Fahy. Goodwin said the Commonwealth Games team could feature Bermuda relay squads in the 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle plus the 4x100m medley.

He wouldn't go so far as to hint at a medal for the two but indicated a consolation final wasn't out of reach considering their rate of improvement.

RICHARD GOODWIN -- Chinese `were caught red-handed'.

DRUGS DGS