MLB stars facing tough drugs tests
 |  Players chief Don Fehr anticipates a quick agreement on a beefed up drugs testing regime. |
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PHOENIX, Arizona -- Baseball's stars could face more tests for drugs such as steroids next season after giving their lawyers the green light to reach an agreement with owners over a tougher doping controls.
It would mean more tests during the season, out-of-competition random testing, harsher punishments and more substances on the banned list.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig has stepped up the pressure for measures to be introduced after reports of grand jury testimony in a steroid investigation that includes Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi.
Major League Baseball Players Association chief Don Fehr said Tuesday that discussions have started with owners upon the framework for a tougher anti-doping policy that could be ready next season.
"We've had these discussions for sometime with the commissioner's office and I expect the conversations will continue next week," said union executive director Fehr.
"I think we will (have a tougher new policy)," Fehr said. "I don't think it will take an extended period of time."
Players could be asked to vote upon the tougher plan in January so it could be put into place before the start of spring training in February, the time frame Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig sought.
"I think we need to do everything we can to put everyone's mind at ease about players using steroids," New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine said.
"We need to wipe away as much doubt about this as we possibly can. Anything we can do to take away people's suspicions, we need to do that."
"We're very pleased they're coming to the table, and we hope we can achieve a program that works," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.
About 40 players were present at the meeting, union spokesman Greg Bouris said. Players leaving the meeting declined comment or said they "could not" discuss what was said during the talks.
"I'm happy to see the union come together. We really need to clear up the public perception of what's going on," Oakland outfielder Eric Byrnes said from California in a phone interview Tuesday night.
"It's been tough, because we haven't had a voice. The biggest thing is that the public knows it's not as prominent as media and some outside sources are making it out to be.
"Do I think it's right? No, absolutely not. In every walk of life, in every profession for hundreds of years, people have been looking to get an advantage. The kids, who are the most important part of this thing, need to know that this isn't OK."
Fehr defended the current program, saying it would work if "it had been given time."
Fehr said he and Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has threatened to propose federal legislation that would override the drug-testing provisions in baseball's collective bargaining agreement, spoke earlier in the week. Fehr expected they would talk again before the meeting ended Thursday.
Each player was tested once in 2004 during a period between the start of spring training and the end of the regular season.
In 2003, anonymous tests were conducted as a survey, and 5 to 7 percent came back positive. Fehr thought the number of positive tests declined this year but did not provide specifics.
"What you will see is a significant reduction," he said.
