IS THERE any point in passing comment on the latest Bermuda Track and Field Association controversy?

Not really.

There are those who believe athletics' governing body is doing a good job. And there are those who know better.

And no matter what's documented in this or previous columns, and despite repeated complaints over the manner in which the sport is run, nothing much changes.

Yet it's difficult to let the latest chapter in what has become a catalogue of calamities pass without mention.

This week's storm over the BTFA's refusal to allow one of its affiliate clubs permission to take four national squad athletes on an educational tour of the US will have come as no great surprise to those who follow the sport.

One might have thought that the BTFA would want to work hand in hand with its affiliates, that it might even be grateful for the Mid-Island Striders' offer to further the education of some of Bermuda's most promising youngsters, perhaps even open doors for college or university scholarships - precious few of which have been forthcoming under the current administration.

Instead, president Judy Simmons and national coach Gerry Swan, the BTFA's two key figures, slammed that door shut.

Various reasons have been given for their refusal to sanction the trip, none of which can be explained with any degree of rationale.

Listen to the arguments put forward by Simmons, and listen to those from Striders' coaches Bill Euler and Renelda Swan. Then make up your own mind.

There's little doubt that an amicable solution could have been found, that a path could have been cleared for all four of the athletes to join the Striders on what, on paper at least, appears to be very much a worthwhile venture.

Besides the four invited guests, there were four other club athletes and no less than five very competent coaches accompanying the group.

But as we know from past experience, that cuts little ice with our track and field `leaders'.

As always, it's do it my way or don't do it at all.

Simmons has insisted that it's wrong to depict her organisation as a dictatorship.

And she's right.

Dictators, as warped as their minds often are, tend to have a sense of direction and know exactly what they're doing. The oligarchy that administrates the sport on this Island doesn't seem to have a clue.

Over the years there have been few clubs which haven't had some kind of run-in with the governing body.

A number of experienced and willing coaches, and would-be volunteers, have distanced themselves from the BTFA because they simply haven't been able to facilitate a working relationship.

Bill Euler and Renelda Swan are just the latest in a long line of athletics afficionados who have had their enthusiasm crushed.

And until we see a change at the top, there'll be more to follow.

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NEWS yesterday that national team cricketer Wendell White had been banned for three matches for daring to talk to this newspaper following the disappointing tour to Argentina earlier this year makes Bermuda Cricket Board of Control appear much like the dictatorship to which the BTFA has been compared.

As noted in this column a couple of weeks ago when senior players Clay Smith and Janeiro Tucker were slapped on the wrist for the same offence, the Board's effort to deny players freedom of speech must come frighteningly close to violating their human rights.

We can only hope that the players themselves will now feel sufficiently aggrieved to meet among themselves and make it clear to the governing body that they won't accept such restrictions.

If they're mature enough to represent the senior national team, they're mature enough to be trusted and treated like adults.

- ADRIAN ROBSON