Two North Village players involved in the recent drug testing controversy have not been banned for one year as claimed by their club, according to chairman of the Bermuda Council for Drug-free Sport, Austin Woods.

But neither will be allowed to play in this weekend's opening league fixture.

Woods yesterday responded to comments made by North Village president Rudolph Hollis on Thursday when he questioned the testing procedures in the case of two of his players and said that the suspensions should be lifted.

The pair showed up for an initial drug test which proved inconclusive. They have been charged with creating a "drug use related infraction'' as defined in the Bermudian Policy on Penalties for Drug Use in Sport after `refusing or failing' to supply a second urine sample.

"These North Village players are neither positive nor negative,'' Woods explained. "The Ph level from some of the athletes was not readable, it was flawed.

"If you didn't give a full sample so that it can be broken into an A and B sample then you haven't complied.'' As a result some players were asked to return for second tests.

"There is nothing wrong with the procedures,'' Woods stressed.

In the case of the two North Village players, and others who did not comply with testing, their cases will go before a review panel which will be heard by next week.

"They will, by October 7, have to explain to the review panel why they did not show up for testing,'' said Woods.

The panel will have to decide if their excuse for not appearing is acceptable.

While the mandatory one year suspension cannot take effect until the review panel completes its findings, Woods supports the players not being allowed to play in the meantime.

"It's a mixed bag, some have been (taken the initial test) and some haven't shown at all,'' said Woods.

"How do you say to those who haven't shown at all, you can't play but you say to the others you can?'' Woods is challenging those who want to better understand the policy to take up the offer to be educated by the BCDS.

"The Bermuda Council for Drug-free Sport have always had the education committee that's available to any and everybody,'' he stated.

"But only some people have taken up the offer. The carrot again is being offered to every national sports governing body, clubs whatever, to have our education committee come in and explain the policy and procedure so that no one has grey areas.'' Woods also says it is time to stop associating drug problems in sports with just soccer and cricket, the country's predominantly black sports.

"It's not a football issue, it's a sports issue but in making it a sports issue people are saying football and then it becomes racial and that's not the issue,'' he said.

"When you look at numbers, golf and football are the highest numbers in the country but this is not the only sport that has had non-compliance. We had another sport in the beginning of the policy that had non-compliance and we dealt with that.'' Woods declined to name the sport but did say the athlete has now been reinstated.

"It wasn't cricket and it wasn't football but I can't give you the name of the sport,'' said the chairman.