Bermuda's national soccer squad could be considerably weakened in the wake of another drugs scandal.

While, as reported in The Royal Gazette yesterday, only one member of the squad has actually failed a drug test, it is now known that others -- as many as nine according to one source -- either refused to take the test or failed to return to offer a second specimen when asked by the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sport (BCDFS).

As the matter stands now, a review panel set up by the BCDFS is in the process of investigating these so-called infractions.

But if found guilty, the players -- who under BCDFS policy cannot be named -- will be banned from both domestic and international soccer.

And Bermuda's national sport could again be deeply embarrassed only five years after the Miami Seven episode when members of the Island's Pan-Am Games squad were allegedly caught with drugs at Miami airport on their return from Jamaica. They pleaded `no contest' to charges of illegal possession and were allowed to return to Bermuda where seven players were later banned for as long as three years.

The recent drug testing was reportedly carried out before the squad's two games against Cayman Islands last week, which Bermuda won 3-1 and 1-0.

However, there is now a real danger that national coach Clyde Best will have to rule out several players who took part in those games as he prepares for next year's World Cup qualifiers.

Bermuda Football Association general secretary David Sabir was yesterday remaining tight-lipped on the matter, referring only to the governing body's statement released on Thursday (see page 19).

However, Best told The Gazette he had no option "but to go on and prepare for the road ahead.'' "All I can say is that we will continue to do what we have to do,'' added Best. "You know the rules, you know the policy, everybody knows it when they join the national team. I'd rather say nothing more....

BFA president Neville Tyrrell, also refusing to elaborate, said: "I view it as being something of a blip on the big radar screen. These things are here to challenge us and we will deal with them as and when we have to.

"Other than that I have no specific comment on the actual testing or anything else, no more than what we said in the press release yesterday.'' Meanwhile, Austin Woods, chairman of the BCDFS, admitted yesterday that the BFA issue was "very complex.'' "I can't say how many players refused to take the test,'' said Woods. "What I can say is that there were some athletes who refused and there were some who were requested to return and did not.

"There is a process that needs to take place over a period of time. That time has not yet elapsed.

"What is required...within seven days after being notified that an athlete refused a drug test, the BCDFS review panel request that the athlete provide grounds or reasons why they didn't turn up. That's where we are right now.'' Explaining the process, Woods continued: "If a person refuses to comply with the drug-use control procedure without reasonable excuse, that constitutes a drug-use related infraction.

"The review panel, which is made up of doctors, lawyers, etc., will then tell athlete A, B or C that they need to give an explanation as to why they hadn't turned up for their test ... and there's a specific period over which this all takes place. That's where we are.'' Clyde Best: `We will continue to do what we have to do.'