by Nick Delgado

Guam - At least ten athletes and their coach's record tainted following drug test results for at least one athlete. It was Guam's time to shine, but now that the Pacific Games held last month in New Caledonia are over, Guam's men's paddling team finds itself caught up in a wave of controversy this after allegations of using prohibited substances surfaces.

The Guam National Olympic Committee confirms it received reports detailing that Guam athletes tested positive for using a banned substance during the recent 2011 Pacific Games. While the GNOC didn't provide any additional information, the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation's president, Joe John Mantanona, confirms at least one athlete from the Guam Men's Paddling Team tested positive. He adds the random drug testing was conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency. "There is random testing out on the Games and so this particular item is in regards to the 2011 Pacific Games where there was some random testing done and amongst a lot of the athletes there was also one or more done with our athletes in canoeing and we had heard been informed that there is at least one athlete that tested positive in one of the substances that are not allowed during the games," he said.

Mantanona emailed the GKCF board Friday to advise them about the "advisory of adverse findings" that the testing revealed illegal substances, and the athletes and coach were interviewed. Mantanona says there are a total of ten on the team, but only a single member that tested positive, saying, "From what we know right now there was just one and in a team event all it takes is one, one will take down the whole team."

He says the team member involved admitted to using the prohibited substance or substances, which he declined to disclose at this time. He says there will now be sanctions imposed on the Guam team. "If the team is disqualified then that means they will have a disqualification on their record every individual, and the way that will affect people is if these athletes and there are a couple of on the team, if they are planning to do other sports the pacific games is one of those qualifying sports and so this will definitely affect their qualification for other canoe sports that are run that are run through our federation," he said.

For now, Mantanona can only wait to find out what action will be taken against the men's paddling team. He expects to hear from the governing bodies within a month, saying, "And hey are on to the final parts of that process to confirm that it was taken or that it wasn't, but we are bracing ourselves as if it is positive so we have to prepare for that kind of judgment…we will adhere to whatever ruling that comes done from the upper bodies which is above the GNOC and will also abide by whatever the GNOC does and will take action of federation level also. Because we do not condone the use of any substance that is not allowed in the games."

The GNOC declined to comment any further than what was printed in the press release when asked by KUAM News for an interview. KUAM News was hoping to clarify with the GNOC whether any other local sports federations may have tested positive for prohibited substances.

SEE THE LIST OF BANNED SUBSTANCES