GAMES ATHLETES WHO SMOKE DOPE RISK JAIL

AUSTRALIAN swimmers and gymnasts would be best advised to hightail it out of
Malaysia at the first opportunity if they tested positive to marijuana, the
medical director of Australia's Commonwealth Games team, Brian Sando, said
yesterday.

The Malaysian Dangerous Drugs Act puts in place some of the most draconian
anti-drug laws in the world, with death the penalty for the more serious
trafficking offences.

Dr Sando said those charged with using marijuana were jailed without bail.
Anyone found guilty of being in possession of more than 200 grams of
cannabis faced a mandatory death penalty.

"It's not a country where you would want to step over the line," he said.

"I was asked what would happen to swimmers and gymnasts who did test
positive to marijuana.

"My answer to that is they would be out of the Games and the smart thing to
do would be to be out of the country before the tests became public."

Dr Sando said he did not expect any problems with the drug among Australian
athletes.

Checked-by: Don Beck