'THERE WAS A LOT OF POT SMOKING GOING ON'

DIFFERENT TESTS FOR DIFFERENT SPORTS

If Ross Rebagliati had won gold as an Olympic curler, there wouldn't have
been any question of him losing his medal.

Curling, bobsleigh, figure skating, luge and speed skating are Winter Games
sports whose athletes are not routinely tested for marijuana. That's
because the umbrella federations for those sports do not require the tests,
and the International Olympic Committee follows their lead when it comes to
drugs that fall into a discretionary category.

Althletes competing in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing,
freestyle skiing, nordic combined, ski jumping and snowboarding, all events
governed under the International Ski Federation, are tested for marijuana
as a matter of course.

If Canada's hockey players win a medal, they will not face testing for
marijuana use.

Here's how the system works: Drugs in five categories are tested for all
sports. These include performance-enhancing substances such as steroids and
amphetamines. But other drugs, including marijuana, fall into a
discretionary category.

Sometimes athletes are tested for these drugs, sometimes they are not. The
penalties can range from disqualification to suspensions from competition
to a verbal reprimand.

Rebagliati, winner of the gold medal in the men's snowboarding event, was
disqualified after he tested positive for marijuana. Urine samples taken
after Rebagliati's winning performance indicated a level of marijuana
measured at 17.8 nanograms per millilitre, above the legal limit of 15
nanograms.

The IOC does not consider marijuana a prohibited substance, but the
International Ski Federation, which governs snowboarding, lists a threshold
of concentration of 15 nanograms per millilitre.

All medal winners are immediately tested after their event, or as quickly
as they can supply a urine sample. Winners cannot leave the competition
area until they have been tested.

``The tests are taken as quickly as possible to avoid problems,'' said Tom
McIllfaterick, executive director of the Canadian Ski Association. ``They
will wait as long as it takes for you to produce a (urine) sample.''

In the case of team events, such as hockey, the International Ice Hockey
Federation follows a selection criteria that tests at least two of the
winning team members, but the International Olympic Committee reserves the
right to do random testing.

``Each federation follows its own guidelines,'' said Rob Koehler, doping
control co-ordinator for the Canadian Centre of Ethics in Sports. ``Most
follow the IOC's medical code.''

Canadian athletes are randomly tested by the Canadian centre 365 days a
year, Koehler said.

``Some can go through (testing) two to five times,'' Koehler admitted.
``The emphasis on testing is carried out throughout the year.''