Drug test players ?gave false names?
Two Devonshire Cougars players at the centre of an ongoing drugs test controversy reportedly gave false names when they turned up for the test prior to the national squad?s match against visiting Santos of Brazil last year.
According to an official document leaked to Kwame Steede identified himself as Heys Wolfe, and when Wolfe himself appeared he gave his name as that of North Village player Ralph Bean.
The information is contained in a chronology of events detailing last year?s national team testing, during which Devonshire Recreation Club claim their players were ?treated unfairly? and the procedure was ?flawed?.
The club have denied the allegations that the two players gave false names and maintain that the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sport (BCDS) failed to adhere to their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) during tests on Omar Butterfield, Wolfe, Steede, Domico Coddington and Raymond Beach.
Both Butterfield and Wolfe have resumed playing after a Ministry of Sports Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) arbitration tribunal overturned a BCDS-imposed one-year ban.
Beach?s ban remains in effect due to the fact it was the second time the player had contravened BCDS rules, having done so previously in 1998 as a teenager.
Official records from the drug testing agency Benedict Associates indicate all three players had tested ?invalid?, yet Government Laboratory results taken from the same samples reportedly tested ?negative? for cocaine, cannabinoid and opiates.
Beach?s case remains in the hands of the ADR.
In response to Devonshire Recreation Club?s claims that BCDS officials failed to adhere to SOPs during the actual testing process, BCDS president Jon Beard insisted: ?Standard procedures were adhered to and I am not going to answer any more questions because I have already sat down with the club and obviously they don?t like my answers.
?I can talk about procedures and all sorts of things but I can?t talk about a specific case and what is disappointing is that we (BCDS) have already cleared everything up with the club.
?I don?t want to talk about specifics because what we did was correct. All we are told to do is follow procedures.?
Meanwhile, Devonshire Recreation Club are arguing that contrary to BCDS standard procedures a first sample provided by the players was disposed of instead of being securely stored.
They also contend the players were permitted to leave and return the next day for further testing which contravenes BCDS policy as they should not have been allowed to vacate the premises until a second sample had been provided. They further claim samples were never properly divided and labelled ?A? or ?B? and say Bermuda Football Association never provided a technical delegate to administer the actual testing process nor were present at either test to represent the interests of the players.
Devonshire officials also claim their players never signed a waiver subjecting them to take the mandatory tests.
However, according to Beard: ?When anybody is registered as an athlete in Bermuda, they are automatically bound by the conditions agreed by all national sports bodies that they will be subject to random testing which is a requirement by the Bermuda Government.
?Our job is to let the national governing sports body know whether or not an individual can or cannot represent the country. End of story.
?Existing policy states that the BCDS does not need a waiver or any form from the athletes who are selected to represent Bermuda. Their registration with a national governing body (NSGB) and the request by an NSGB to us for screening carries the implication that the athlete agrees to testing.?
An official BFA document obtained by states: ?Every player accepting the invitation to join the national team must sign the national team player?s agreement before they are officially a part of the team which among other things requires them to take periodic drug tests.?
Speaking on the issue for the first time, ADR secretary Helena Rawlins explained: ?The ADR council is responsible for securing a panel to hear whatever complaint that is brought to us. No one on the Board can be a panel member or someone that hears the actual issue.?
Rawlins? explanation came in response to the Devonshire club?s claims that her involvement as BCDS vice-president and ADR secretary constituted a conflict of interest along with that of BCDS president and BFA executive Beard.
Meanwhile, Beard added: ?If Devonshire Recreation Club actually spoke to us (BCDS) instead of going to the press then things might have been solved by now.
?There are ways and means of doing things instead of chucking it out in the press.?