decision not to comply with the drugs-free sports policy, so the Department of Youth and Sport will continue its lock-out of the softballers.

BASA affiliates, during Thursday night's Special General Meeting, voted 22-12 against compliance with the policy. And while Youth and Sports Director Brenton Roberts said that the Department would further assess the situation, it is certain BASA will effectively remain `banned' from using Bernard Park or any other Government affiliated properties.

"What we know is what we've read in the press,'' said Roberts yesterday. "We don't have any official documentation and I don't know if they intend to send any official documentation.

"We can only act on what we have officially in front of us, so until we hear differently or otherwise the status quo will remain in place.'' For their part, BASA released a statement once again noting their disagreement with the policy "in its current form'', which is believed by some to be an invasion of privacy and punitive, especially towards recreational athletes.

"This is the second time this year in which members have had a chance to vote on the issue, this time with the full knowledge of the possible ramifications their decision might bring,'' said the press release submitted by BASA's Executive Committee.

"As we have previously stated, BASA is, and always will be, against the use of illicit, as well as, performance enhancing drugs in its sport. The association, and now the members, fully support any efforts to eradicate drug use from society. However, we also feel that this may be achieved in many different ways.

"We reiterate that what we do not support is the mandatory random drug testing of the recreational athlete. We have and will stand firm by our convictions.'' However, Roberts shot back at objections to the state of the policy as being invasive and punitive by its nature.

The Director noted how athletes who run afoul are afforded choices, just as life offers up choices, some of which result in a penalty being served, while others serve to aid.

"People say that it's punitive, but there is such a thing as the memorandum of understanding, whereby if you test positive in a screening, random or national, you have an option which is put to you immediately,'' said Roberts.

"The option is that you can either serve a year's ban, or you can re-enter your sport immediately if you undertake counselling, with random testing throughout that one year period. So, you can play locally -- you cannot play internationally -- if you undertake counselling as a means of helping you to rid yourself of the habit that you have.

"It's a matter of choice for the individual to make, and I know of a number who have taken that choice and are doing quite well.'' Also addressed was the issue of various reports stating the drug-free sport policy to be one initiated by Government, when the fact is that it is not a legislative issue at all.

Roberts noted how it is actually a policy of the national governing bodies of sport in Bermuda, with Government merely acting as a facilitator in the process.

"We took this approach in that the sports body came to us with the Miami Seven situation and said, `We need your help, what are you going to do?' We decided that this was the approach to take.

"It's easy to legislate and put a powerful piece of legislature in place as Australia did to coerce behaviour. But we found the best way is if the organisations believe it in themselves, then they'll be much more active in promoting it and that has been the case ... that is the case.'' However, it is the very issue of the policy having not passed through Parliament that has sparked opinion that, if challenged in court, it may not hold up.

And legal action is reportedly one of the options being considered by softball. Roberts though was unmoved.

"We're extremely safe in this regard, from the perspective of any legal challenges,'' he said. "I won't reveal how I know that to be, but I can say that we wouldn't make a move unless we knew what our position was.'' Brenton Roberts: `status quo will remain in place' DRUGS DGS BASA locked out after vote to defy drugs policy