Selig's letter to fans vows to cut out drugs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig sent an open letter to baseball fans on Thursday, telling them he will not tolerate the use of human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing drugs.

"As Commissioner I won't be deterred" Selig said in the letter. "And I will try to do everything I can to keep up with, or even stay ahead of, those who break the law and break our rules."

Selig's letter comes on the heels of former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley being caught in a federal sting operation.

Grimsley had two kits of HGH confiscated from his home, was suspended for 50 games and released by the Diamondbacks.

Grimsley has admitted to using HGH, steroids and amphetamines and has also reportedly named several players who were using HGH. Selig did not refer to Grimsley by name in his letter.

"Seven hundred and fifty great athletes play major league baseball," Selig's letter said. "The overwhelming majority are honourable, hard-working individuals who play to win the right way.

"But among the 750 there have been and still are those who cheat the game to gain an advantage. They hurt not only themselves, but they unfairly raise questions about the integrity of their team mates, who play by the rules and they violate the trust placed in them by you, the fans.

"These players, who use performance-enhancing substances, offend all of us who care for the game and I will not tolerate their actions."

The letter appeared on Major League Baseball's official Web site and was to be printed in numerous publications on Friday.

An investigation headed by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell is also currently under way, trying to discern the extent of steroid use in recent years in the sport.

(Writing in Miami by Roger Lajoie)