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Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig would accept government intervention on steroid testing if the players' association refuses to change the current rules, which run for two more years.
Sen. John McCain has threatened to propose legislation that would override the drug-testing provisions in baseball's collective bargaining agreement. Selig says there should be more frequent testing and harsher penalties for positive tests than called for in the labor contract signed by owners and players two years ago.
"If we cannot resolve this issue privately, I gladly will accept whatever help is offered by Senator McCain to achieve our ultimate goal," Selig said in a statement Monday.
Officials of the union and management have met several times since May to discuss Selig's call for changes, but no agreement has been reached. Union head Donald Fehr said talks will resume after the weeklong annual meeting of the union's executive board, which began Monday.
Baseball didn't ban steroids until Sept. 30, 2002, and testing for steroids with penalties started only this year. Each player is tested once from the start of spring training through the end of the regular season, and a first positive test results in counseling. A player who tests positive a second time could be suspended for 15 days.
Source: AP
Sen. John McCain has threatened to propose legislation that would override the drug-testing provisions in baseball's collective bargaining agreement. Selig says there should be more frequent testing and harsher penalties for positive tests than called for in the labor contract signed by owners and players two years ago.
"If we cannot resolve this issue privately, I gladly will accept whatever help is offered by Senator McCain to achieve our ultimate goal," Selig said in a statement Monday.
Officials of the union and management have met several times since May to discuss Selig's call for changes, but no agreement has been reached. Union head Donald Fehr said talks will resume after the weeklong annual meeting of the union's executive board, which began Monday.
Baseball didn't ban steroids until Sept. 30, 2002, and testing for steroids with penalties started only this year. Each player is tested once from the start of spring training through the end of the regular season, and a first positive test results in counseling. A player who tests positive a second time could be suspended for 15 days.
Source: AP