Selig seeks tougher steroid rules

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has proposed a ''three strikes and you're out" policy to punish steroid users, and has asked the head of the players' union, Donald Fehr, for his support in implementing penalties that call for a minimum 50-game suspension for a first offense, 100 games for a second, and a permanent ban for any player failing three tests.

''Third offenders should be banned permanently," Selig wrote to Fehr in an April 25 letter that was subsequently distributed to the owners of all 30 clubs.

''I recognize the need for progressive discipline, but a third-time offender has no place in the game. Steroid users cheat the game. After three offenses, they have no place in it."

Selig's proposal calls for significantly tougher penalties than those a congressional panel found wanting during recent hearings, which led some panel members, most notably Representative Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican and the chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, to call for the federal government to impose an across-the-board testing proposal for all professional sports. Major League Baseball has expressed opposition to such a plan, preferring to operate its own testing program. Under the rules that began this season, a first offense gets a 10-day suspension, with the penalty increasing to 30 days for a second positive test, 60 days for a third, and one year for a fourth. For a fifth positive, the penalty is at the commissioner's discretion.

"This is what can happen when you shine a little light," said Dave Marin, a spokesman for Davis. "Davis's primary goal all along has been to encourage a little more self-policing. Kudos to the commissioner." Representative Henry Waxman of California, the committee's ranking Democrat, said Congress will examine Selig's proposal closely.

"It is weaker than the policy Congress is considering, but significantly stronger than baseball's current policy," Waxman said in a statement.

In his letter to Fehr, Selig informed him that beginning in 2006, he will toughen the minor league testing program to provide for a permanent ban after a third offense, and that illegal amphetamines, already banned, will be more closely regulated. "It is my strong opinion that, regardless of whatever incremental progress we may have made under the current agreement, we continue to have a serious integrity issue with regard to our current policy and our great game," Selig told the owners, informing them of his plan.

Selig also asked the major league players' union to ban amphetamines, to have more frequent random tests, and to appoint an independent entity to administer the major league drug-testing program.

"Illegal amphetamines should be banned as performance-enhancing substances," Selig wrote. "It is time to put the whispers about amphetamine use to bed, once and for all."

Until this year, testing for steroids had been part of the collective bargaining process, but under considerable public pressure, the union agreed to make the penalties stipulated by the 2002 collective bargaining agreement stronger. Now, Selig is asking Fehr to go even further.

"This issue should not be viewed as one on which the clubs are demanding further concessions from the players and the [union]," Selig wrote to Fehr. "Rather, this should be an issue on which we find a way to work together to restore the faith of our fans in the integrity of the competition on the field and in the integrity of our great institution."

In Arlington, Texas, where the Red Sox were playing the Texas Rangers last night, Selig's proposal received generally favorable reviews, though a couple of players sounded cautionary notes.

"We're seeing guys, even with the [current] policy, abuse the policy by still taking steroids," said Johnny Damon, the Sox' union representative. "This is going to scare guys away a little more."

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who testified at the congressional hearings last month, said he had no comment yesterday, but veteran teammate Mike Timlin, like Damon, expressed support. "I think it's a pretty significant answer to what the congressional hearings were about," Timlin said. "They wanted a stricter policy. This is pretty strict, and I think people should heed it."

Fehr, reached by the Associated Press, said he was not yet prepared to respond to Selig's proposal.

"We'll respond in due course," Fehr said, adding he anticipated replying early next week.

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek said that while he supported a ban on steroids, he has ongoing concerns about the testing procedures.

"I still worry about the false positives and how that's protected," Varitek said. "You just never know when the right person is doing the right thing with the wrong result."

Rangers shortstop Michael Young, one of the top young stars in the game, also expressed reservations about Selig's proposal. "I'm absolutely in favor of drug testing, steroid testing, getting steroids out of our game," Young said. "At the same time, I'm most aware that our existing program is working. And I don't think the way for us is to make adjustments based on the court of public opinion.

"That puts a lot of pressure [on the union]. We have to keep in mind that the most important objective is to get steroids out of the game, and not merely go after individuals."

Players interviewed yesterday expressed less enthusiasm about Selig's intention to go after amphetamines as well. "Hard to compare apples and oranges," Varitek said. "We're going to try to correct the apple first."

Damon, too, said the emphasis should be placed on steroid testing rather than amphetamines, also known as "uppers" or "greenies."

"I think right now the biggest issue is steroids," he said. "Once we clean that up maybe it's time to work on other things.."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that while he hadn't seen Selig's proposal on steroid testing, he endorsed its intent.

"I think what he's trying to do is what is best for baseball, and best for the people in baseball," he said. "Not only for the reputation of baseball, but for the health of the people in baseball."

Chris Snow of the Globe staff contributed to this report and material from the Associated Press was used.