PresidentBush yesterday urged MLB and union leaders, through a spokesman, to take "strong steps to address the problem" of steroids, but offered no specific policy suggestions.
"Players who use drugs undermine the efforts of parents and coaches to send the right message to our children," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
The President's statement came as negotiators for the league and the players' association expressed optimism that a new agreement -- with tougher testing standards and penalties -- could be in place by the opening of spring training camps in mid-February.
President Bush, the former managing partner of the Texas Rangers, has not been involved in negotiations but has maintained indirect contact with officials of MLB and the players' association through Roland Betts, a longtime Bush associate who is serving as an "informal conduit" between the president and the sides in the baseball negotiations, McClellan said.
Betts has ties to management and the union, having been part of the Rangers' ownership group with Bush and serving on the board of directors for the U.S. Olympic Committee alongside union chief Donald Fehr.
The president's stance on steroids in sports has been well known at least since January 2004, when he urged U.S. sports leagues during his State of the Union address to toughen their anti-doping measures and called upon athletes to be role models for children.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has threatened baseball with legislation in Congress if the sport does not toughen its steroids policy on its own, hinted over the weekend that he had Bush's support in the matter.
Baseball's current policy calls for one test during the season -- and none in the offseason -- with penalties beginning with a player's second positive test. The program in the minor leagues, which Selig has advocated for the majors, calls for four tests in and out of season, with a 15-game suspension for a player's first positive test.
The new policy being negotiated reportedly calls for as many as three tests -- with at least one in the offseason -- and penalties beginning with a first offense.
-- Dave Sheinin
