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Johnny Damon says owners want steroids in the game because more home runs result in bigger crowds.
Baseball's top labor lawyer hinted Thursday that the sport may move to overturn subpoenas for records of last year's drug tests, and he criticized Boston players Curt Schilling and Johnny Damon for their comments on steroids.
Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, challenged players to negotiate a tougher drug-testing plan than the one in place, but acknowledged the players association had no obligation to bargain over drug testing until the agreement expires in December 2006.
Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, joined Manfred on a telephone conference call and said commissioner Bud Selig wants to strengthen the drug-testing plan agreed to in August 2002.
"The world has changed dramatically over the last 18 months," DuPuy said, "and the commissioner is attempting to change or react to those changes and get to a zero-tolerance policy, much like we have in the minor leagues, as soon as possible."
A federal grand jury in California has indicted four men on charges of illegally distributing steroids, including the personal trainer of Barry Bonds.
Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield were among those who testified before the grand jury. The players have denied using illegal steroids, and the four men who were indicted pleaded innocent.
The grand jury at first attempted to obtain all records of baseball's survey tests last year. Manfred confirmed that after discussions with the U.S. attorney's office, narrower subpoenas were issued to the two companies that conducted baseball's drug tests, involving only a handful of players. Those subpoenas are due to be returned by April 8.
"We made an agreement with the players association that this testing was supposed to be not only confidential but anonymous," Manfred said. "At every step thus far, we've done everything we can to defend that agreement."
He said "the subpoenas were served before the destruction that was contemplated by the agreement could have been effectuated. We didn't intend to leave a paper trail."
Gene Orza, the union's chief operating officer, declined to comment after being told of the remarks, union spokesman Greg Bouris said.
Baseball has been criticized by those who think players should be tested more often and penalties should be more severe.
Manfred said Selig had instructed his staff to "explore every possible means" to put a tougher testing program in place for performance-enhancing substances. A baseball official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged earlier this week that baseball's labor lawyers concluded the union's approval was needed for any changes.
Asked whether the union had an obligation to bargain over drug testing, Manfred said "as a strictly legal matter, the answer would be no."
On Wednesday, Schilling said baseball's drug testing needs to be conducted by a third party -- something that already is done.
Damon, Schilling's teammate on the Boston Red Sox, said everyone in baseball knew steroid use had been going on in recent years but it was ignored because it contributed to more home runs and interest.
Manfred and DuPuy denied that. Manfred said he viewed the remarks "clearly an attempt at obfuscation, an attempt to distract people from what the real issue is."
He said the players' comments were "completely misinformed" and said that if the union doesn't like the two agencies currently used -- Comprehensive Drug Testing of Long Beach, Calif., and Quest Diagnostics of Teterboro, N.J. -- perhaps the players would prefer tests be handled by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which uses labs at UCLA and in Montreal.
"The commissioner is prepared to enter into such an agreement today," Manfred said.
Damon couldn't be reached, and Schilling didn't want to respond to Manfred.
"I'm not going to comment on it right now. I'd rather see it in the context it was given," Schilling said.
Manfred admitted that drug testing is an issue in negotiations to start a World Cup tournament. It still is not clear whether it has become an obstacle that will derail plans.
The International Baseball Federation won't sanction the event unless it includes drug testing that meets Olympic specifications, which the union has opposed.
"Frankly, time is of the essence to be in a position to have this event in March or February of 2005," Manfred said. "We need an agreement on drug testing that is more in line with international standards that would be truly representative of the various countries around the world that play the game."
Source: AP