Four Sporting Bodies Barred from Facilities
Due to lack of compliance with doping control, four Bermuda sporting bodies are presently barred from training facilities operated by the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation, as well as barred from receiving funding.
The sporting bodies in question are Boxing, Martial Arts, Target Shooting and Archery. Most are working to correct the situation, and hopefully reverse the course of action.
The Dept says the governing bodies are “working diligently to correct their situation”, but if they do not comply by April 30th, the Dept will “request that they be stripped of their National Association Status” which will affect the ability “of their athletes to compete internationally.”
Explaining the importance of adhering to these regulations, Director of Youth, Sports and Recreation Norbert Simons said that if Bermuda is found to be not compliant with World Anti Doping Association [WADA] regulations, it would have a major impact on what we as a country could host locally. Mr Simons went on to explain that we would not be able to host international events such as the International Race Weekend, the Gold Cup sailing event, the Rugby Classic and the PGA of America Golf tournament.
On April 1, 2010 the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports, the anti doping origination in Bermuda, released the names of National Sports Governing Bodies [NSGB] in Bermuda that were not compliant with World Anti Doping Association.
They were not red-listed for doping violations, but for a variety of reasons including:
- Not providing membership lists for the random programme for more than 18 months
- Insufficient notice for pre event testing
- Non compliance by athletes for whereabouts information
- Not making the change to the constitution to include the adherence to the WADA and BCDS Rules and Procedures
On April 5 these national sports governing bodies were requested to attend a meeting at the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation to address the situation.
At present Boxing, Martial Arts, Target Shooting and Archery are not able to receive funding from Youth & Sport, and are not able to use any of the Departments sporting or recreational facilities for training.
Should these organizations fail to fulfill the requirements established by the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports by April 30, 2010 the department say they will have no option but to inform their International Association and request that they be stripped of their National Association Status.
They would then be removed from the list as a National Association in Bermuda. The Department would also instruct the Bermuda Olympic Association to remove them from their list and this would affect the ability of their athletes to compete internationally.
Should the Association inform the Department prior to the set date, that there are individuals or individual groups that are preventing them from becoming compliant, they have the right to remove them from their Association. They will also inform their international Association that these groups or persons are not members of the National Association in Bermuda and should not be allow to participating in any international events.
Director of Youth, Sports and Recreation Norbert Simons said:
It is vital, that we in Bermuda understand the magnitude of this situation. Should Bermuda be discovered as a country that is not compliant with WADA regulations, it would have a major impact on what Bermudian athletes can and cannot do worldwide. It would also have a major impact on what we as a country could host locally, for example we would not be able to host international events such as the International Race Weekend, the Gold Cup sailing event, the rugby classic and the PGA of America Golf tournament.
To this end I am pleased to inform Bermuda that of the five NSGB’s that are not compliant, Boxing, Martial Arts and Target Shooting are working diligently to correct their situation.
The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association within one week was able to fulfill their requirements and is now compliant.
The only Association we have yet to make contact with is the Bermuda Archery Federation.
It is our hope that all the NSGB’s in question will be compliant and fulfill the requirements set in place by the BCDS by the established date.
