Bermudans facing drugs ban

Three of Bermuda's squad who should have appeared in their side's Stanford 20/20 campaign are facing lengthy bans after failing a drugs test.

"If any athlete has tested positive with us we then send a portion of the specimen to the government lab for confirmation," Cathy Belvedere, a spokesman for the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports, told The Royal Gazette newspaper. "And if it is confirmed positive they then get a one year infraction.

"They can apply for the domestic application whereas they won't be able to represent Bermuda during that year but can go back to playing gymnastics, football, cricket or whatever sport they are involved in," Belvedere added. "They would also have to agree to some counselling, but that's only if there's a positive find."

Although the identity of the players is not yet known, it was confirmed that two of the trio represented Somerset - one of Bermuda's domestic teams - while the other is "a prominent member" of St George's, the domestic champions.

"All of the players [in the national team] were tested, but unfortunately not everyone cleared the process which has policies in place that all national bodies must adhere to.," Reggie Pearman, president of the Bermuda Cricket Board, said. "All of the players knew what was required of them and what the consequences were."