that the bans they received for using an illegal stimulant had been rescinded.

Bermuda Body Building Federation (BBBF) president Dennis Wainwright last night revealed the good news to The Royal Gazette , intimating that justice had indeed prevailed.

Wainwright's organisation had launched a vociferous protest against the bans, which came as a result of the octet testing positive for ephedrine (also known as ephedra), a fat-burning drug.

The BBBF contended that they had not been notified of a change in rules that added ephedrine to the list of illegal substances.

"Our position was that we had no knowledge of the change in the doping manual (in reference to stimulants),'' explained Wainwright. "The stimulant came under the IOC manual, but not under the IFBB, which we have gone under.

"So, based on that, we felt that we had ground to stand on, the point being that if there was going to be any change we should have been notified.'' In upholding the appeal the IBFF replaced the ban with a warning and sent notification to all members of the rule change.

The decision comes in advance of Bermuda's hosting of the CAC Championships early next month (November 3 and 4).

And Wainwright also moved to clarify confusion in the minds of the public as to the use of stimulants, which are often pegged next to anabolic steroids.

"These are supplements that are used to reduce fat and can be bought across the counter by anybody,'' said Wainwright. "Coffee is a stimulant.'' Bermuda's team for the Championships will be chosen tonight at Blue Water Anglers Club.