Anti-drug campaigners have challenged Bermuda's softball chiefs to prove their commitment to ridding sports of the scourge by submitting players for random testing.

The post-season was thrown into doubt last week when softballers were banned from using Bernard Park by the Ministry for Youth, Sport and Recreation.

The move came as a result of the Ministry being informed by the Bermuda Council for Drug-free Sports that the Island's Amateur Softball Association had not complied with requests to submit lists of players for testing.

BASA's ruling committee claim such a testing policy is "flawed'' and say they do not believe it should be necessary for recreational athletes to take part.

But BCDSD chairman Austin Woods said it was time BASA grasped the nettle.

"The simple answer to this is that the executive does not have the courage to be able to make a decision about drug testing. If you are drug free what do you have to fear?'' he said.

Woods said BASA needed reminding of a simple fact.

"Sports is a privilege. It is not a right,'' he said. "They don't have a right, it's a privilege to play the sport. To be associated with an international federation is a privilege, it is not a right.'' Woods said BASA "stood out like a sore thumb'' as far as sporting organisations on the Island were concerned and he couldn't understand their reticence to adopt the policy.

"It's not that we are saying every athlete is going to be tested,'' he said.

"It's 10 percent of their numbers. I don't know what their total numbers are because they haven't submitted a list.

"But let's say their number is 2,000 as an example -- you are only talking about 10 percent per year.'' Members of BASA's organising committee are believed to be meeting to discuss the situation this week. In the meantime Government has said Bernard Park will remain off limits.

Austin Woods: `If you are drug free what do you have to fear?' DRUGS DGS