January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
No more money or use of facilities
Government threatening to shut down four sports
No more money or use of facilities
Athletes from the sports of boxing, martial arts, target shooting and archery are no longer eligible to receive government funds.
The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association barely escaped being on the list.
Norbert Simons, director for the Department of Youth, Sports and the Environment, said: "At present Boxing, Martial Arts, Target Shooting and Archery are not able to receive any funding from our department, and they will not be 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 Friday, April 30, 2010 our department 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 our list as a National Association in Bermuda.
"We would also instruct the Bermuda Olympic Association to remove them from their list and this would affect their athlete ability to compete international."
The groups missed two deadlines imposed by Government to meet the World Anti Doping Association's compliance regulations. The last one was April 1.
On Monday, April 5, these five national sports governing bodies summoned to a meeting with the Department of Sports.
Mr. Simons said at the meeting he stressed "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.
PGA Grand slam
"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."
He said he was pleased that four of the groups have made some progress to be 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."
Simons added those sporting groups have the right to kick out any individual or groups of individuals who are preventing them from meeting the international drug-testing standard.
These individuals will no longer to be able to compete internationally.[[In-content Ad]]
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