A total of 13 Island athletes tested positive for drugs in t he last 12 months, according to figures just released.

Eight of those cited by the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sport were bodybuilders who fell foul of event testing at last year's Bermuda Body Building Federation Night of Champions.

The athletes received three month bans for using the banned stimulant, ephedrine, a fat burning drug.

However, the bans were lifted on appeal when the BBBF argued they had not been notified of a change in the rules that added ephedrine to the list of illegal substances.

A pool of 4,640 athletes were made available for random testing between April, 2000, and March this year and of that 323 were actually seen.

Three tested positive for either marijuana or cocaine, while 14 were recorded as non-compliant as they failed to turn up for testing within the specified timeframe.

A further 431 were tested before or during events with 10 -- including the eight bodybuilders -- testing positive.

The BCDFS are refusing to name the remaining athletes who tested positive and even in which sports they participated for fear of reprisals outside of the realms of sport.

Council Chairman Austin Woods explained: "I know what (sports) they are but I cannot tell you because in many cases with the size of the community people will say `why is such and such a player not playing, or why has such and such player not been selected for a squad?' "For that reason there is a breach of confidentiality if I indicate to you which sport it involves.'' Woods went on: "In the international arena there is no confidentiality but in a community as small as Bermuda in many cases what you do is jeopardise an individual's livelihood.

"For instance, if you were playing for a football team and you hadn't been playing and people wanted to know why and your boss finds out you have a drug problem it could cause you some problems in your workplace.'' Despite the fact there were those who were still using drugs, Woods said he believed the figures were good news but he said others within the community needed to adopt the same approach if the scourge was to be eradicated.

"As far as drugs in a sporting context are concerned I think the message is out there that we will not tolerate them,'' he said. "(BCDFS) is the only organisation I know right now in Bermuda that is doing something, but it's up to the workplace and all other places to be as proactive within the community.'' Woods added: "When you look at the percentages, the number of persons tested against the number coming up positive or the number that didn't show, overall the figures are certainly encouraging.'' Meanwhile, the chairman announced that softball was now back among the fold after it was isolated for not agreeing to random testing.

Drug figures `good news' From Page 17 The climax to last season was halted when Government prevented the Bermuda Amateur Softball Association from using Bernard Park.

"I wrote a letter to the Minister yesterday indicating that they will be in compliance because they have submitted the names for random testing and they now understand that random testing is part of the overall policy and they have agreed to do that.'' Woods said.

He said it had been a drawn-out affair, but one that had ended satisfactorily for all concerned.

"I think it was just a matter of the administration accepting the fact that national sports governing bodies have to be proactive about drugs in sports,'' said Woods.

"They never said they were against the policy, they were only against the random portion. They felt to some extent that individuals who were recreational shouldn't participate.

"What we are saying that any person competing in a league or representing their country should be tested in and out of season.'' Austin Woods: Encouraged by latest drug test figures.