Ushering in a revolutionary set of rules for current and future athletes, national sports bodies on Saturday unanimously ratified a pact that will result in drug testing for virtually every person involved in Island sports.

"The community is small enough that if we want to lick the drug problem in Bermuda we can do it,'' Premier Pam Gordon told delegates in a surprise appearance at the Drug Free Sports Conference at Bermuda College.

It was Gordon who, as Sports Minister, ordered the sports overhaul in the wake of the Miami Seven Affair three years ago. The result is what officials are calling perhaps the most comprehensive policy in the world.

Loosely based on a Canadian version, it was written and Bermudianised over the past seven months by the Bermuda Council for Drug-Free Sport, an eight-person committee consisting of Island sports representatives and chaired by Vaughn Mosher.

That council -- also consisting of Neville Tyrrell, Austin Woods, Denise Kyme, David Petty, Ellen Lopes, Jon Beard and Clint Smith -- will remain in place and on Saturday were joined by seven others -- Tracey Sharrieff, Lou Matthews, Craig Davis, David C. Bean, Ruth Holder and David A. Bean. Together they will provide additional policy developments, such as education and public awareness, as well as final implementation of the penalties and procedures phase.

The latter could be more contentious than the policy itself.

At least one sports club is seeking a one-year grace period before full-blown testing begins "to allow members to become more educated'' about the policy, Devonshire Colts' Stanford Bean said.

But another, North Village, wanted action almost immediately. Saying his club had already held instructional seminars, secretary Vance Hollis argued that any delay "is time we might be spending saving some people from drugs.'' The answer will likely be somewhere inbetween. Mosher and Anthony Roberts, Director of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation, said they were aiming for an April 1, 1998 launch.

Announced drug testing for national teams is already in place.

Only 27 of 35 sports groups attended the conference (members of a 28th, the Bermuda Triathlon Association, are currently in Australia and sent a two-page letter of support instead). It was not immediately known which groups were absent.

The policy is not legislated by Government but in the strongest message yet, Gordon threatened withdrawal of any Ministry assistance for groups unwilling to jump on board.

And Roberts, who has acted as point man throughout the policy's development, vowed that groups not complying "can be assured that their team will not represent this country.'' Also pledging continued support was Dr. Derek Binns, acting CEO of the National Drug Commission, which is subsidising the cost of testing and rehabilitation. "I applaud you in your desire to turn vision into practical reality,'' he told delegates.

Casey Wade, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport consultant, also hailed Bermuda's policy, saying athletes and coaches currently involved in drugs will either quit taking them, quit playing, or continue taking them and get caught.

In the event of the latter, the policy offers hope and help that can lessen the harshness of penalties, said Mosher, who heads Benedict Associates.

SPORTS SP THE POLICY Announced testing Will take place at selected competitions and will usually be known well in advance.

Unannounced testing Acting on requests from national bodies, the sports community or the Ministry, selected individuals will be targeted for testing.

Random testing Ten percent of the Island sports population will be subject to year-round testing, their names drawn randomly from a pool.

Other infractions Anyone possessing or supplying any of five illicit drugs or counselling others in their use.

Refusing to take a drug test.

Penalties First offence: One year ineligibility from all sports.

Second offence: Three years ineligibility from all sports.

Third offence: Lifetime ineligibility from all sports.

First offence for non-athletes: Lifetime ineligibility from all sports.

Reinstatement Athletes or officials can apply for early reinstatement with successful completion of rehabilitation.