leave the Island without being tested for drugs.

"Absolutely not,'' said Youth Development, Sport and Recreation Director Anthony Roberts this week.

Roberts, who heads the formation of the Island's first sports and drugs policy expected to be in place early next year, was responding to reports that the Bermuda national cricket squad took part in the ICC Tournament in Malaysia with only one player being tested.

"Once we have a policy in place, it will be abundantly clear what procedures and processes shall be used in the selection of teams,'' said Roberts.

Roberts, however, would not comment directly on the cricket tour, which ended last month amid disciplinary problems, allegations of marijuana use by at least two players and calls for the resignation of Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Ed Bailey.

Citing a reluctance to prejudice the BCBC's own inquiry into the ill-fated trip, Roberts would only say the Ministry would be monitoring developments.

The timing of the turmoil surrounding the BCBC coincides with the ongoing developments of the Drug Free Sports policy -- in itself not a bad thing, Roberts said.

"It drives home a powerful message,'' Roberts added.

"Despite the Miami Seven Affair (when seven under-23 soccer players were arrested on their return from a tournament in Jamaica three years ago), we still run the risk of having Bermuda's image tarnished if we don't have certain processes in place.'' On the heels of last month's workshop at Bermuda College, about a dozen sports officials have formed an Interim Bermuda Committee for Drug Free Sports.

Using guidelines established by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport -- who are acting as consultants for the Ministry -- the committee has been broken into sub-committees working in five categories that will form the basis of the policy: Standard procedures Education Treatment review Research Public awareness Roberts returned from vacation last week to find the first draft of the policy awaiting his perusal. "The momentum has caught on,'' he said.

Also a campaign using the slogan "Drugs Don't Play Here'' will soon be launched, said Roberts.

SPORTS SP