athletes representing Bermuda in international contests.

In the House of Assembly, Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon tabled Government's response to a recent Board of Inquiry report on drugs in football.

The board was appointed by Government after seven members of Bermuda's Under 23 football team were arrested in Miami last year on charges of drug possession. The players later pleaded "no contest''.

A key recommendation of the board, chaired by former Premier the Hon. Sir John Sharpe, was that each player be tested for drugs, including marijuana, at the time of selection to a national team.

Government said problems highlighted in the board's report were not confined to football. For that reason, its response would "address sport collectively, rather than the narrower focus of football''.

As for drug testing, Government "supports the concept provided that it is intended to assist athletes in combating drug use and not to be used as punitive measures to isolate and punish athletes,'' said the Government response.

A drug testing programme and its costs should be explored with the National Drug Commission and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, with the Ministry of Youth and Sport taking the lead.

With the House rising for the summer last night, the board report and Government's response is not set to be debated by MPs until fall, though Senators could take the issue up next week.

"I think we all agree that the problem of drugs in Bermuda is pervasive and is destroying the fabric and fibre of our community, threatening our social and economic well-being and destroying the health of those associated with this culture,'' Ms Gordon told the House.

She promised to meet with sporting and other groups over the summer to expand on Government's position.

In keeping with a recommendation of the Board of Inquiry that executive members of the Bermuda Football Association set an example by submitting to drug testing, "Government takes the view that executives of sport bodies should be prepared to participate themselves in a drug testing programme to demonstrate their leadership and commitment, and to this end Government itself is prepared to lead by example.'' Government also supported the board's call for thorough background checks on players being considered for national teams.

It also voiced support for searches of the persons and bags of returning team players, "in accordance with the provisions of the law''.

But Government hedged on the board's recommendation of video surveillance of match spectators and the experimental banning of alcoholic beverages at matches.

While recognising "the good intention'' of recommended video surveillance, Government "would err on the side of caution...and invite all field operators to (first) consult with the Police and legal authorities. And proceeds from the sale of alcohol were "significant if not critical to sports development'' in Bermuda.

"We would recommend that clubs ban spectators bringing coolers or bags with alcohol into club grounds, thereby exercising some control over its use at sports venues.

"The question of banning alcohol altogether is a matter for more serious study since this would need to be offset against other revenue sources which clearly are not identifiable at this time.'' New sources of funding for sports were needed, and the Ministry of Youth and Sport would "play a leading role.

The possibility of a national lottery to benefit sport, also mentioned in the report, was not endorsed by Government.

Nor was the board's call for a monitoring agency to assess progress with the recommendations. Calling for "self policing'' by sports bodies and clubs, Government said it would assess the need for a monitoring agency in one year.