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Soldiers sacked over drug tests Soldiers sacked over drug tests
(20 minutes later)
Five soldiers have been dismissed from the Army after failing a drugs test, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.Five soldiers have been dismissed from the Army after failing a drugs test, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The men are from the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and their duties include guarding the Queen. The soldiers are from the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and their duties include guarding the Queen.
The soldiers were caught following a routine test of their unit. The MoD would not reveal the drugs involved. They were caught following a routine test of their unit. The MoD would not reveal the drugs involved.
On Sunday it emerged eight soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers had tested positive for illegal drugs in July.On Sunday it emerged eight soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers had tested positive for illegal drugs in July.
An MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that five members of King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, London, have provided positive samples following their unit's recent testing as part of the Army's drug testing programme.An MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that five members of King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, London, have provided positive samples following their unit's recent testing as part of the Army's drug testing programme.
"Internal administrative action has been taken against all five soldiers.""Internal administrative action has been taken against all five soldiers."
The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery's main ceremonial role is to perform gun salutes to mark the Queen's official birthday and other royal occasions. Ceremonial duties
The spokesman added: "Drug misuse in the armed forces will not be tolerated.
"Positive rates in the Army over the last three years average around 0.8%, compared with over 7% in civilian workplace drug testing programmes in the UK."
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, two of the five dismissed were women and two were Iraq veterans.
The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery's soldiers have been guarding Buckingham Palace for the past three weeks, along with other royal residences, but this duty is scheduled to end on Tuesday.
The soldiers' duties - as part of the Household Troops - include the firing of royal salutes in Hyde Park on royal anniversaries and state occasions.
Stationed at St John's Wood in London, the King's Troop also provides a gun carriage and a team of black horses for state and military funerals.