MPs this afternoon gave the green light to a law tightening Bermuda's rules against drugs in sport.The Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority (BSADA) will be formally set up through the Anti-Doping in Sport Act.The act was supported in the House of Assembly by both opposition parties.Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney said the bill is essential for Bermudian sportsmen and women to continue competing internationally, by moving the Island in line with global standards.It allows BSADA to collect and test samples from athletes as part of a national anti-doping programme.Introducing the bill, Mr Blakeney noted drugs are a "scourge" in Bermuda's community, so the legislation is "most important and most timely".He said it is important that young people who aspire to represent their country understand that drugs in sport will not be tolerated.The legislation will be accompanied by an awareness and education campaign. Anyone violating the anti-doping rules may be disqualified from competitions and events, become ineligible for funding or be suspended from future competitions.The rules do not just cover athletes, but also their entourages including coaches. They are part of a global initiative that many other countries around the world have already adopted in legislation.Mr Blakeney said additional legislation will need to be passed to "operationalise the interdiction and criminalisation" of the list of banned substances in the World Anti Doping Agency code.He said steps are being taken to bring that ancillary legislation before the House "at the earliest possible opportunity”.Shadow Sports Minister Charlie Swan said the United Bermuda Party supported the legislation."There's no question that the people of Bermuda, especially those represented by the group of us [UBP MPs] on this side, support all efforts to make sure that the people who represent this Country in overseas sports or local sports are of the highest calibre in all respects”.However, he raised some technical questions such as who would be doing the tests, and how the board overseeing the rules would be staffed.He also inquired whether the new rules would cover the doping of horses.Government backbencher Randy Horton delivered a long speech on the history and perils of drugs in sport. Bermuda, he said, should "lead the way" in taking action against them."We need to ensure that our young people grow up knowing it's a no-no," he told his Parliamentary colleagues.Trevor Moniz of the UBP said he was not sure Mr Horton is right that Bermuda is leading the way, and noted: “If we don't pass this now, we're out of luck.”Health Minister Zane DeSilva described the act as “a critical step”.Independent MP Darius Tucker also backed the legislation, saying: “There's a new day in sport and that means that we must be drug free.”