Action about drug testing needed

EDITORIAL

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Who said the Canadian Football League (CFL) isn't big time? They're big enough to influence an entire nation (or at least CFL cities.) They're big enough to have a drug problem. And Edmonton Eskimos' Hector Pothier is big enough to know better. Pothier, a nine year CFL veteran, was arrested for possession of hashish at the Winnipeg International Airport on Sunday, October 25. He came before a court that day and pleaded guilty to possession of a narcotic. The Eskimos team captain received an absolute discharge not a suspended sentence like the courts did with Oiler's Dave Hunter when he was caught- ahem - breaking the law (among other things) and did serve a sentence. Pothier will serve no time.

The hapless CFL, which also seems to have one foot in the grave, suspended the offensive tackle for the remainder of this season and next. According to former Eskimos' executive manager Norm Kimball the incident puts "the CFL in a very unpleasant position." It comes at a time when the CFL is investigating substance abuse in the league. Kimball, who is currently the Montreal Alouette president added that "if it happened here, he'd be gone." Pothier has contributed greatly to the Eskimos and the CFL in the past. He was traded to the Eskimos after not reporting to the Montreal Alouettes training camp in 1978. Pothier played his first year of professional football with Edmonton and went on to collect five Grey Cup rings with the team. In '81, the CFL chose him as a Western Conference All-Star and All-Canadian. At the time of his arrest, Pothier was also a CFL Player's' Association representative.

On the issue of drug testing, Pothier once said, "I don't know why athletes have to justify their private lives when no one else does."

It's calling setting an example, Mr. Pothier, and responsibility. Parents do it all the time. But it's hard to teach an impressionable child a right set of values when their heroes are teaching them the opposite.

Should drug testing be mandatory in the CFL? I say yes, but I'm only a fan. Maybe the CFL should turn the problem over to the fans. Let us vote on whether or not there should be mandatory drug testing in the league, and let us decide what to do with offenders.

There is no room for diplomacy here. The CFL must take a stance and make a decision on drug testing.