Four sports were yesterday given their final warning to become compliant with the rules of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

And if they don't become compliant by next Friday they will be stripped of their national association status.

The tough warning was given by Government yesterday to boxing, martial arts, target shooting and archery.

Director of Youth, Sports and Recreation Norbert Simons said: "It is vital that we in Bermuda understand the magnitude of this situation. Should Bermuda be discovered as a country that is not compliant with WADA regulations, it would have a major impact on what Bermudian athletes can and cannot do worldwide. It would also have a major impact on what we as a country could host locally. For example we would not be able to host international events such as the International Race Weekend, the Gold Cup sailing event, the (World) Rugby Classic and the PGA of America Golf tournament (Grand Slam)."

And Jon Beard, chairman of Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports (BCDS), the anti doping origination in Bermuda, gave Government the thumbs up for their stance yesterday.

Beard said: "I applaud Government and would ask those sports who are behind in what we need to have get it in as quickly as they can before the deadline. For us to be compliant with WADA we have to do certain things and the national associations have to do what they are expected to do. They have been given fair warning for some time now."

And Beard said that BCDS are there to help sporting bodies who are struggling to comply with the regulations.

"Our office is there to help them – it is not like we are acting like a Police force – we are there to help people. We are not asking for anything overly demanding but I do appreciate that they (sporting bodies) do not have full-time officers and it can be difficult. But we can help and advice the best way of doing it."

Simons said that the four sports will not be able to receive any funding "from our department, and they will not be able to use any of the department's sporting or recreational facilities for training."

He added: "Should these organisations fail to fulfil the requirements established by the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports, by Friday, April 30, 2010 the department will have no option but to inform their international association and request that they be stripped of their national association status. They would then be removed from the list as a national association in Bermuda.

"The department would also instruct the Bermuda Olympic Association to remove them from their list and this would affect the ability of their athletes to compete internationally.

"Should the associations inform the department prior to the set date, that there are individuals or individual groups that are preventing them from becoming compliant, they have the right to remove them from their association. They will also inform their international association that these groups or persons are not members of the national association in Bermuda and should not be allowed to participate in any international events.

"It is our hope that all the NSGB's in question will be compliant and fulfil the requirements set in place by the BCDS by the established date."

At the beginning of the month the BCDS named five sporting organisations that were not compliant with WADA. They were tennis, boxing, martial arts, target shooting and archery.

Then Government had face to face meetings with the five.

Simons said: "To this end I am please to inform Bermuda that of the five NSGB's that are not compliant, boxing, martial arts and target shooting are working diligently to correct their situation.

"The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association within one week was able to fulfil their requirements and is now compliant. The only association we have yet to make contact with is the Bermuda Archery Federation."