that several members of the Island's team travelling to Argentina and the Pan American Games next week were asked to submit to drug tests at the weekend.

Woods said the tests were not out of the ordinary and were not as a result of the recent problems which plagued the Under-23 soccer team in Miami.

BOA secretary general John Hoskins reiterated Woods' comments, adding that testing "seemed the prudent thing to do''.

The tests were conducted on a random number of competitors -- the Bermuda squad is made up of 37 athletes -- and results should be ready prior to the team's departure next week.

"We had a team meeting to talk about everything from travel arrangements, drug testing and team uniforms,'' Woods said. "Since 1989 the BOA have had the right to conduct drug tests at random and we were simply performing our rights.'' Woods said the tests were of a highly confidential nature and the team's medical advisor was provided with a list of names.

He said testing was a common procedure and was conducted overseas during last year's Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia.

Woods also added that random tests would be performed once the team arrived in Argentina.

One major concern as the team prepares to leave is some of the travel costs, particularly those involving the 18 soccer players and five officials.

Some of those costs were expected to come from the $75,000 the team won as a result of qualifying for the Games.

The BFA have yet to receive the money from CONCACAF, but have requested a meeting with president Jack Warner. "That's to sort out matters pertaining to football,'' said BFA general secretary David Sabir yesterday.

Warner was unavailable for comment yesterday but according to officials at CONCACAF headquarters in New York a meeting would be difficult for this week since Warner is in the Cayman Islands.

"We're not quite sure what Bermuda wants, we think it has to do with the situation with the Under-23 team,'' said the official.

Besides soccer, Bermuda will compete in sailing, cycling, water skiing, karate and track and field at the Games.