procedure.

Facing a battery of requests from Island sports groups, officials from the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports have begun on-site testing that can provide results within minutes.

Testing previously has taken place at the Government lab at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, with results often not available until the next day.

"This is dramatically more efficient,'' said Council spokesman Austin Woods.

Since the launch of Bermuda's first Drug Free Sports Policy on April 1, nearly 100 athletes have been tested. But at least that many will be asked to undergo a urinalysis in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, beginning in less than two months.

That makes on-site testing that much more important, said Woods.

"Once it's decided to test a particular sport or individual, we just have to go to a training session, and, assuming there's a private, secure area, go about it in one night,'' Woods said.

The new tests consist of a medically-approved swab that, when placed in contact with urine, will change colour if the presence of an illicit substance is found. In such cases, a B sample will be analysed and broken down at the Government lab.

They are sensitive enough to detect marijuana used two weeks earlier, Woods said.

The new method was used at BASA pool two weeks ago, before the departure of a 22-person swim team for the Caribbean Championships, currently taking place in Barbados.

The BCDS -- comprised of representatives from national sports groups -- completed writing the standard operating procedure to accommodate the new tests on the weekend.

Any athlete representing the Island in overseas competition must be tested before leaving. Sports groups are also using tests for pre-selection.

Of those tested since April 1, five individuals have tested positive, Woods said. Citing a confidentiality clause, he would not elaborate.