from the public.

A survey recently conducted for The Royal Gazette shows nine out of ten Bermuda residents approve of mandatory drug testing for Island athletes prior to competition.

And support was widely distributed, with strong approval most evident among residents living in the central parishes (81 percent), among women (78 percent), residents aged 35 and up (77 percent) and whites (82 percent).

The poll, part of a quarterly survey of 404 Bermuda residents conducted by Total Marketing and Communications Ltd. in association with Corporate Research Associates Inc., took place between June 27 and July 6.

It is considered accurate to within 4.9 percent in 95 out of 100 cases.

The Island's first drug free sports policy was officially launched on April 1 and provides for drug testing for virtually every athlete representing the Island in competition. It also provides for targeted testing of selected individuals and events and allows for random testing of ten percent of every sports participant.

Ramdom testing will not go into affect until this fall and the sruvey did not specify types of testing.

The question, posed to read: "As you may be aware, it is mandatory for most of Bermuda's sports teams to undergo drug testing prior to a competiton. Do you (strongly approve, generally approve, generally disapprove, strongly disapprove, neither approve or disapprove) mandatory drug testing for Bermuda sports teams.'' Seventy-three percent said they strongly approved and 17 percent generally approved.

In contrast, only four percent generally opposed it and five percent strongly opposed it. One percent of respondents had no opinion.

Of those who did not approve of the policy, the majority were black, male, in the 18-34 age group and from low income households.