marijuana use, The Royal Gazette has learned.

And the Bermuda Football Association, conscious of another scandal in the wake of the Miami Seven affair two years ago, moved swiftly to remove the as-yet unnamed teenagers from the team roster for the BFA International Youth Tournament taking place at National Stadium this week.

All three were conspicuous by their absence from the line-up for Bermuda's three matches against Canada, United States and Glasgow Rangers and will likewise miss the consolation final tomorrow.

It is not known when, where or by whom the tests were administered or if the entire squad were also subject to examination. Also a mystery is whether the players have been, or will be, disciplined beyond their dismissal from the youth squad.

The tests and subsequent elimination of the trio from the national programme would appear to indicate that the BFA'a new zero-tolerance policy toward drug use -- specifically at the national level -- is working.

The policy, aimed at weeding out drug users from the national programme, was put in place following a Jack Sharpe-led Board of Inquiry into the scandal of the Miami Seven, which rocked the Island's national sport, plunging it into disrepute and counting as one of its victims president Richard Thompson.

BFA acting president Neville Tyrrell yesterday held off commenting on specifics of the situation. General secretary David Sabir released a statement that said, in part: "Following the events of the past two years, the Association has instituted as part of its overall National Policy, rules and regulations specific to national team players and officials. This policy involves issues including behaviour, discipline, and the misuse of drugs.

"All of our national team players will be selected according to this policy.

The same is true for all our players participating in our International Youth Soccer Tournament. Further to this, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that our team is the best team in accordance with our policy.

"The Association intends to administer the policy in accordance with its provisions and we are satisfied that we have done so and at the same time given each and every player equal opportunity to represent Bermuda.

"Those players that were unable to comply with our policy were not eligible to participate in our tournament. We have given them every opportunity to continue at some time in the future, providing that they adhere to certain conditions.

"It will be inappropriate to identify names or provide information on the specifics involving those players not selected for our team. This will be in violation of our policy.'' In December of 1994, seven players were arrested in Miami on charges of importing and possessing marijuana while on their way back to Bermuda from Jamaica after enjoying success during a Pan American Games qualifying series.

A no contest plea to simple possession was entered by the group in a Florida court in return for prosecutors dropping the charges of importation and they were ordered to leave the United States immediately.

All were subsequently handed one-year bans from domestic soccer, coupled with three-year international suspensions.