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This is no April Fools joke for sporting groups - Government will cut off funding and use of facilities come April 1 if they aren't compliant to international drug testing standards.

A total of 11 sporting groups could find themselves and their athletes without any Government help if they don't meet all the requirements for drug testing.

Bermuda, as a country, is nearly 14 months behind meeting the World Anti-Doping Agency's deadline and the rogue national governing bodies are putting every Bermuda athlete in jeopardy of not being able to compete.

Norbert Simons, director for Youth, Sports and the Environment said, these organizations have one least chance to get everything in order by a March 31 deadline - some 15 months after WADA first demanded countries get their sporting bodies up to scratch on international drug testing standards.

"Should they not be compliant, then we're not prepared to assist them financially or they will no longer be able to use our facilities," he said.

"We sent out letters two weeks ago and they have until March 31st. We're a year behind. By the time March comes it will be 15 months and we have until November to have all our ducks in a row," for WADA he said.

Changes

Simons said some groups have had changes in administration and the current executive boards of national sports may not be fully aware of what all is involved.

Cathy Belvedere, executive director for the Bermuda Council for Drug-Free Sport, said there were eight groups which had a ways to go to be compliant and three that just needed minor tweaks to fall in line.

In addition, athletes who represent Bermuda will be in the random drug testing pool for 30 months - 12 months prior to the event and 18 months afterwards.

She said that includes teams as well like Devonshire Cougars, who are representing the island in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The entire senior team will be subject to out of competition random drug testing up to 18 months after they play their last game in the competition as per international standard.

She said the BCDS have 25 people who are about to sit their final exam to be drug testers.

She said that right now there are 120 people in the random drug testing pool, but she expects those numbers to swell as athletes try to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and people to add to the list.

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