A Government Minister and his shadow joined forces to condemn criticisms of the Island's drug testing policy in sports.

Both Youth and Sports Minister Dennis Lister and Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin spoke out after drug abuse researcher Walton Brown, speaking in Saturday's Royal Gazette , blasted the current policy for "taking people away from sports''.

Mr. Brown contended it was unfair to test sports stars for illegal drugs such as marijuana as well as performance enhancing drugs such as steroids.

But Mr. Lister hit back, saying that athletes were in no way being singled out.

And he added that, if sports governing bodies were in any way dissatisfied with current practices, then they should approach the Minister with their grievances.

"If we look at the trend in the community, say for example the business community, they are now putting into practice certain drug and alcohol programmes in the workplace,'' Mr. Lister said.

"An unspoken policy has always been in practice and employers have always had concerns about drug and alcohol abuse.

"We're not singling out one group of individuals, it's just that some have taken a more forward approach. That's the way that society is heading. We don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water and totally get rid of everything that sport is doing. Instead we should take our hats off to the sporting community and see it as an example that everyone should try and reach.

"The process has gotten this far because of the support of the executives of the various sporting bodies. If they are not happy then they have to address those areas.'' The Minister found a team mate in Opposition Youth and Sport spokeswoman Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, who described Mr. Brown's comments as "unfortunate''.

"If we are serious about eradicating the scourge of drugs in our community there must be a positive stand taken by all sports bodies,'' Ms Gordon-Pamplin said. "The unfortunate comments made by Walton Brown seem to condone the use of illegal substances by athletes as long as they do not represent Bermuda internationally.

"If we are creating an outcast society by not allowing drugs in sport, as Mr.

Brown suggests, we must emphasise that the use of illegal drugs is a personal choice which requires personal responsibility. If there is an outcast society created, it is the choice of the drug user, not the fault of the community.

"I do not believe that the creation of a drug-free policy was a knee jerk reaction by moral do-gooders. It was the genuine approach by a responsible Government to ensure that laws are not broken. As long as drugs are illegal, the use thereof cannot and must not be condoned.

"To suggest that only performance enhancing drugs should be screened for ultimate punishment of an offending athlete would tend to support the use of other illegal drugs by athletes. This certainly cannot be the position that we would want to prevail for our athletes or for our young people to emulate.

"I say shame on Mr. Brown. I believe that we need constructive support not destructive criticism, especially by educators who we hope would show a better example to young people.

"The permissiveness which Mr. Brown encourages undermines his credibility in the public arena.

The controversy exploded following revelations in last week's Royal Gazette that the Island's national soccer team had been rocked by another drugs scandal.