By BILL KAUFMANN -- Calgary Sun
 Canadian star equestrian Eric Lamaze has a nose for trouble and deserves to be banned from competition for life due to his cocaine use, said a slim majority in a small Calgary Sun poll of Spruce Meadows enthusiasts.

 Of the 25 surveyed in the unscientific poll conducted yesterday, 13 believed the decision to bar Lamaze from competition for life after he tested positive for cocaine twice in four years was a fair one.

 Twelve felt the penalty too severe and counterproductive.

 Many of those approached had never heard of Lamaze or the controversy and weren't able to contribute to the poll.

 Margaret Yamada of Vernon, B.C., summed up the small majority's feelings on the issue.

 "Don't all of our athletes take drug tests and why should (Lamaze) be different from them?" she said.

 "These people are held up as examples to our children."

 But others said that, while Lamaze should be harshly penalized, a lifetime banishment is unduly severe.

 And because they doubted Lamaze took cocaine to enhance his performance, he deserves some leniency, they argued.

 "He's a good competitor and (cocaine) can't really help his performance because his horse does most of the work," said Joel Bhikoo, 17, of Calgary.

 But others said Lamaze should have known better.

 "If riding is that important to him, you'd think he'd learn his lesson after the first time," said Kim Lipka of Edmonton.