Senator derides steroid proposal

BASEBALL UNION REBUKED Bunning throws high, hard one at Fehr’s offer

WASHINGTON • U.S. lawmakers said a proposal by Major League Baseball players to double the minimum ban for steroid use falls far short of what’s needed to keep Congress from mandating anti-drug measures in professional sports.

“ We must send the message that if you use illegal drugs, you will pay the ultimate price by not playing an entire season,” Jim Bunning, a Republican senator from Kentucky and Hall of Fame pitcher, said. “ And if you get caught again, you will be banished for life.”

Two days before a congressional hearing on steroids in sports, baseball players union leader Donald Fehr said yesterday his group would accept a 20-game suspension for a first drug violation and the possibility of a lifetime ban for a three- time offender.

Pending legislation would ban players for an entire season for their first offence and for life for a subsequent offence.

“It’s an embarrassment,” Bunning said of the union proposal. “Donald Fehr has embarrassed the people he represents. He says to the American people in that letter, ‘ We don’t care what you think, 20 games is all we think is necessary.’ ”

Bunning and John McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, said after Fehr’s announcement that they believe any acceptable plan must mandate permanent expulsion on a third offence. Bunning also wants more frequent tests, and blood tests to catch chemicals used to hide steroid use.

The Senate Commerce Committee plans tomorrow to hold the second congressional hearing this year on the issue, questioning the commissioners and union leaders of the four major U. S. sports — baseball, football, basketball and hockey.

Lawmakers have said that permissive steroid policies may be prompting youth to take performancedrugs that carry severe health risks, including greater likelihood of heart, kidney and liver disease.

Baseball bans first- time steroid offenders for 10 days without pay, out of a six-month, 162-game season. The National Football League has a four-game suspension, or a quarter of its 16-game schedule, for first offenders. The National Hockey League suspends firsttime violators 20 games without pay, and the National Basketball Association from five to 10 games. Both hockey and basketball have 82- game seasons.

Baseball’s policy was introduced this year under congressional pressure, and carries suspensions of 30 days for a second offence, 60 days for a third, a year for a fourth and a possible lifetime ban for a fifth.

Later in the spring, baseball commissioner Bud Selig proposed increasing those penalties to 50 games for a first offence, 100 games for a second offence and a lifetime ban for a third.

Fehr proposed 20 games for a first drug violation and a permanent ban for a third violation if there is “just cause” and subject to the review of an arbitrator. He also said players would agree to new tests for amphetamines.

“ Twenty games are not enough,” Major League Baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.

Union spokesman Greg Bouris said Fehr’s office had no reaction to the lawmakers’ comments.