lot clearer this week.

Phase three of an ambitious government initiative is expected to be ratified at the Ministry of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation's 1997 Sports Conference at Bermuda College on Friday.

Delegates from all 36 national sports bodies have been invited to throw their support behind the Drug Free Sport Campaign -- a continuation of the mission statement launched in November and the forerunner to the implementation of strategies such as random drug testing.

"This is where they'll be putting their money where their mouth is,'' said Anthony Roberts, director of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation.

To this point, 30 of the groups are known to be on board. Roberts is expecting confirmation of all participants by today but will extend the deadline until Friday "to give (latecomers) the benefit of the doubt.'' Sports groups not co-operating can expect repercussions, although Roberts doesn't think that will be necessary. "We're very encouraged (by the response),'' he said. "It speaks well for the interest by these bodies.'' Bermuda is following the lead taken by Canada in eliminating drugs from sports and one of the architects of that nation's efforts will be on hand on Friday.

Paul Melia, director of education for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, arrives on the Island tomorrow and on Friday will discuss policies and steps towards their implementation.

Also offering a progress report on these policies will be Bermuda Football Association and two of their club members, North Village and Devonshire Colts.

Bermuda Archery Federation, Bermuda Cricket Board of Control and Bermuda Horse and Pony Association are also speaking.

Island sports received a wake-up call with the Miami Seven affair two years ago and since then two major studies have come out showing drug use is, Roberts said, "insidious and pervasive.'' "The trends coming out of these (reports) are quite alarming,'' said Roberts.

About ten percent of the adult population use illicit drugs and 60 percent regularly consume alcohol, according to a 1995 National Drug Commission study.

And a 1994 study showed 30 percent of all students were drinking alcohol, with marijuana use not only on the rise but starting as young as 10-years-old.

Roberts said sports groups were "looking to the ministry to take the lead'' and the result was a discussion paper -- Toward Drug Free Sport -- which gave way to a mission statement arising out of the National Drug Free Sport Conference in November.

"This is a case of working in partnership (with the individual organisations),'' he said. "The crowning point is Friday.'' Once sports groups get on board, the next step will see the formation of a central co-ordinating organisation to carry out the administration of drug-free sports, whose duties will include random drug testing -- both illicit and performance-enhancing drugs.

Dr. David Dyer, named last week as Sports minister, will open the conference, which continues on Saturday with discussions on corporate sponsorship, sport in education and an update on the National Sports Centre.

GOVERNMENT GVT