WHEN IS A POSITIVE DRUGS TEST ?..
NOT A POSITIVE DRUGS TEST?

The answer appears to be when the RPRA Council says so!
Now don?t believe for one moment that I am questioning the decision made in a recent case involving SMDF members but what I am questioning is when can droppings

samples be takenand submitted for examination if they can?t be taken from a competitor?s basket at the time of marking the birds.

It would appear that if there is the remotest chance that samples taken from a basket containing a competitor?s birds can have been placed there by a third party

and that those droppings contain a performance enhancing substance then, although the test will give a positive result, the test will be declared null and void by the RPRA.

If this perfectly realistic assumption is to be believed, then it would seem that any droppings taken from baskets are so unreliable that the process of taking such samples is a

complete wasteof everybody?s time even if the samples were taken by an independent, qualified professional individual such as a veterinary nurse.

Surely, the whole drug testing scenario is now being placed in jeopardy and I, for one, can see a situation developing where Clubs, both large and small, are going

to be reluctant to carry out the necessary processes to enable the test to be undertaken. Is this what the RPRA want?

With my other hat on, as President of the Staffordshire Moorlands & District Federation, I am now being asked by my members to explain the whole position of where

the RPRA stands on the subject of Drug Testing, and to be frank I find myself having to say that I am unclear and totally confused as to what actions I can recommend.

The time has now come for the RPRA to come clean and explain to the pigeon fancying world as a whole, where they stand on the subject of Drug Testing and how it can be carried out

to the satisfaction of all concerned, in order to achieve accurate results for the benefit of the vast majority who participate in our wonderful sport.

I look forward to receiving the RPRA?s comments in order that I can let my members know the outcome and hopefully regain their cooperation on this rather sensitive subject.

In the meantime chaps, keep your chins up and keep the faith. I?ll let you know if I hear anything but don?t hold your breath.
Cheers for now

Brian T Smith

Press Officer SMDF