erased by his third place finish in a top class field at an indoor meet in Ghent, Belgium on Sunday.

That's the view taken by both the athlete's elder brother Stephen, who handles Douglas' business when he is competing abroad, and Bermuda Track and Field Association president Stanley Douglas.

Both feel he should now be confirmed for Bermuda's team to travel to the Pan-Am Games in Argentina next month.

At last week's Bermuda Olympic Association final Games selection meeting, Douglas was "provisionally'' named to the team on the understanding he proved he was in competitive shape.

Neither the sprinter's brother nor the BTFA president felt this was an unreasonable request.

However, Douglas himself was known to be upset about the BOA's condition prior to his performance on Sunday when he placed third in the 200 metres behind Frankie Fredericks of Namibia. Fredericks clocked 20.48 and Douglas 20.94. He was scheduled to run in another meet in Moscow yesterday.

"The Bermuda Olympic Association probably feel that at the level of a big meet like the Pan-Am Games, you have to be seen to be fit. It's in their bylaws and they feel that it's being fair to all,'' said Stephen Douglas.

But he admitted to being irritated over the fact that athletes such as Troy and triple-jumper Brian Wellman had to personally deal with matters such as BOA rules and requesting money from the Elite Athletes Fund.

Such procedures, said Stephen Douglas, were a "huge distraction'' to the athletes and detracted from their preparation for the big events.

He reckoned such matters would be better handled someone in Bermuda, preferably the national coach or a manager.

"When most of the elite athletes go into the big international meets abroad they have managers who do these sorts of things for them. They don't have time to worry about getting caught up with procedure and financial things,'' said Stephen.

He added: "Bermuda needs to look at these athletes to be role models for our youth. There are not many who are better, let's face it. We must be made aware of the level where Troy and Brian are. They have accomplished a lot.'' Stan Douglas, who is working on behalf of Troy following the athlete's threat to sit out the Games unless funds from the Elite kitty are forthcoming, said he was pleased to see the Bermudian in such good form in his first indoor meet.

And the BTFA chief stressed that he did not envision any major problems in resolving the funding dispute.

"Troy's performance in Belgium should definitely be enough to prove that he is fully fit,'' said Douglas. "I think everyone knew he was out there training and in good shape. It's just that they (BOA) wanted to be sure because he had not been heard from.

"It was something like the eighth best indoor time recorded in the 200 metres this year. The real thing we are talking about with the procedure is bringing back accountability. Maybe Troy took it personally.

"Because you are an exceptional athlete you still have to be accountable. We are moving towards accountability and people have not had to do that before.''