MAJOR-JUNIOR EXECS MEET WITH ANTI-DOPING CHIEF

OTTAWA - Canadian Hockey League executives met with the CEO of
the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport on Friday to develop an
anti-doping policy for major junior hockey players.

The CHL, which is the umbrella organization for the Western, Ontario
and Quebec major junior hockey leagues, wants to have a policy ready
to take to its board of governors in June.

WHL president Ron Robison and QMJHL counterpart Gilles Courteau met
with CCES head Paul Melia, who had been asked by the CHL to help put
together an anti-doping program including information and education,
testing, sanctions and rehabilitation.

CHL president David Branch doubles as head of the OHL.

''There is no place in the CHL for illegal drugs or
performance-enhancing substances, and the CHL is committed to putting
in place a policy that makes this abundantly clear,'' Courteau said in
a statement.

Player agent Gilles Lupien said last month about 40 per cent of junior
players were using drugs. The Quebec league used to test players but
the program ended more than a year ago when the CCES, which conducted
the tests, objected to the league's refusal to take sanctions against
players who tested positive.

Under the former program, an offender would get counselling on the
health dangers of using banned substances, but faced no suspensions or
other disciplinary action.

''The CHL demonstrated a real and genuine concern for the health and
safety of their players today and the CCES looks forward to working
with them in the coming weeks to develop a policy and program that
responds to their specific needs and sends a strong anti-doping
message to major junior hockey players,'' Melia said.

The CCES will begin testing players in Quebec's triple-A midget hockey
league in March, and hopes other leagues will follow suit.

Quebec league president Martin Roy said he believes about 25 per cent
of those players, most of them aged 15 to 17, were using drugs.