none of the athletes competing at this week's CAC Games had been prevented from speaking to the press, as claimed by Bermuda Track and Field Association officials.

National track coach Gerry Swan, BTFA president Judy Simmons and Games track team manager Pat Lake had all told The Royal Gazette this week that the athletes had been forced to sign a document which prevented them from talking to the media.

However, Woods supplied to The Gazette a copy of the BOA document which competitors were required to sign before the Games in which there was no mention of a `gag' order as maintained by the BTFA officials.

In a TV interview on Wednesday, Ms Simmons claimed athletes had been required to sign only a two-page document prior to the last Commonwealth and Olympic Games but had more recently been asked to put their name to a four-page document.

Woods again, however, indicated it was exactly the same document but simply presented on smaller-sized paper.