Pound blasts new MLB steroid policy

"This is a complete and utter public relations exercise," said Pound, who has criticized the four major North American professional leagues for their relatively lenient approach to their sports' growing doping problems. "To let someone who's tested positive have another chance . . . "

After nearly 7 percent of more than 1,400 players tested were shown to have taken steroids during the past year, baseball announced Thursday that it would impose contractually-specified penalties upon future users.

Commissioner Bud Selig said he hoped that the policy would eventually "allow us to completely eradicate the use of performance-enhancing substances in baseball."

A first positive test for steroid use would result in treatment and a second in a 15-day suspension or fine of up to $10,000. The punishment would increase to a 25-day suspension or fine of up to $25,000 for a third positive test, a 50-day suspension or fine of up to $50,000 for a fourth and a one-year suspension or fine of up to $100,000 for a fifth.

"If you knowingly cheat, we're going to give you counseling," Pound said dismissively of baseball's `five strikes and you're out' approach. "If you're caught five times, it's a year. That's preposterous. And there are all kinds of things they don't even test for." The new world anti-doping code, which does not apply to US professional sports, has a two-year penalty for steroid use. Track and field's world governing body is considering increasing its first-time steroid ban from two years to four.When Pound asked Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League to sign on to the global code last spring, all refused. Although the ongoing federal investigation into a California supplements laboratory has turned up the names of numerous pro athletes who may have used the designer steroid THG, the WADA chief said he sensed no urgency among the leagues to toughen their doping penalties.

"I find no signs of that," said Pound, who said league officials essentially have been "sliding their chairs back and harrumphing."

Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, declined comment when told of Pound's remarks. On Thursday, Manfred said "a positive rate of 5 percent is hardly the sign that you have rampant use of anything." Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official, was traveling yesterday and could not be contacted. He said Thursday that the results showed claims of widespread steroid use in baseball "were wildly inflated."

Pound said WADA would probably make an official complaint to the baseball commissioner's office about the sport's drug policy, which was negotiated last year with the players' association.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.