weeks -- but only one will not be tested for drugs.

An eight-man Bermuda Track and Field Association team left for San Juan, Puerto Rico and the CAC Championships yesterday without undergoing tests for illicit drugs, The Royal Gazette has learned.

But in a sign that sports bodies are taking Government's Drug Free Sports Policy seriously, both the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association and the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control have insisted on drug tests for their athletes prior to upcoming competitions.

In fact, the national swim squad, which heads to Cuba on July 2, was last night scheduled to undergo drug tests by Athletes Assistance and Counselling Service, a new programme started by Nelson Bascome.

And Bascome, the Shadow Minister for Youth Development, Sport and Recreation, yesterday confirmed that the BCBC had signed on for his firm to provide testing prior to the International Youth Tournament, being held here beginning on July 6.

The BCBC have apparently learned their lesson, after becoming embroiled in controversy earlier this year when it was revealed the national squad was not tested before competing at the ICC Trophy tournament in Malaysia -- despite assurances to the contrary by president Ed Bailey.

Bascome, whose offer to provide testing for the BCBC a year ago was rebuffed, said cricket officials signed on earlier this month and that "the process is place for them to receive a comprehensive programme'' for the IYT.

His firm has not been asked to provide random testing for players during the seven-nation tournament "but if they do I will be able to provide that service,'' Bascome said.

After working with the National Drug Commission and Benedict Associates, Bascome launched AACS three months ago. He said he will soon be sending out letters to the heads of all national sports bodies offering his services.

But that's a little too late for the BTFA.

President Judith Simmons confirmed the squad was not tested, but only because the NDC and Benedict Associates -- two organisations working closely with the Ministry -- did not respond to the BTFA's inquiries. She was not aware of Bascome's service, she said.

"We've been doing our part'' in supporting the Drug Free Sports Policy, Simmons said.

Ministry director Anthony Roberts yesterday agreed. While the BTFA may have left their testing plans a little too late, he called their attempt "a positive step,'' indicating they had been "vocal supporters (of the Policy) all along.'' Said Bob Oliver, a BTFA vice president travelling with the national track squad: "We have tried to find out procedures. We did want to do the right thing.'' And doing the right thing is what prompted BASA to take the initiative and have their swim squad tested before the CCAN age-group meet in Havana, president Jim Ferguson said. He added any other BASA travelling squad would be tested and that national squad members would be subjected to random tests from now on.

"We just want to make it known that drugs don't belong in sports,'' he said.

Bascome and BASA officials met with swimmers and their parents on the weekend to go over the procedures and answer questions, Ferguson said. Only swimmers over 13 are tested.

"We're just doing what we said we'd do (when BASA signed the Ministry's Mission Statement),'' said Ferguson.

"We don't have our heads buried in the sand; we know (drug use) goes on in Bermuda. Who's to say we're safe from it?'' Ferguson did not know if the swim squad would be tested in Cuba. Likewise, Oliver said he wasn't sure if the track squad would be tested at the CAC Championships, which begin tomorrow.

Oliver added that of his eight athletes, two -- Brian Wellman and Troy Douglas -- are already tested regularly on the international circuit.

The cost of testing an athlete in Bermuda is minimal -- an average of $50 according to Bascome, $9 per drug per person according to Roberts -- and can be underwritten by the NDC.

Typically, athletes are tested for marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Results are held in strict confidence, Bascome said.

"All we want is to make sure we're sending out of here drug free individuals to represent Bermuda,'' he said.

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