PIGEON fanciers beware! You've heard of athletes being tested for drugs, but get ready for the news which is shaking the foundations of the sporting world.

Your loveable (and valuable) feathered friends may soon be tested for anabolic steroids - the body-enhancing drug used by fitness freaks - as well as two other illegal substances, after reports of cheating across Europe.

The Royal Pigeon Association is worried that the continental con men may be starting to influence people in this country to try the same underhand tactics.

The Association's secretary for the North West, Howard Ackerman, said: "We had to bring rules in concerning performance enhancing drugs in this country because of problems in Belgium.

"If anyone organising a race has suspicions, a sample of the bird's droppings can be demanded to be sent for testing to the horse racing forensic labs in Newmarket."

A positive result could mean a hefty three year suspension from races to make the owner see the error of his ways.

Abuse of the rules in pigeon racing is not a new thing. Fran and Alan Johnson - keen pigeon racers with the Haslingden Flying Club - spoke of the seedier side of the sport.

Fran said: "At some of the big open races there's quite a lot of money at stake now. I know of instances where people have fiddled with the clocks which time the pigeons, but they always end up getting caught."

The couple, like many others, hope the sport stays clean - and that the pigeons don't fly quite so high.

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