Congressman says steroids bill needed

WASHINGTON — Baseball and other major U.S. professional leagues have made progress battling steroid use but not enough for Congress to back off on legislation, a key Republican lawmaker said Thursday.

“There is certainly movement, but I don’t think we are where we need to be yet,” said House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis of Virginia, who has sponsored steroid-testing legislation that would subject athletes to two-year bans for a first positive test.

Davis led a round-table discussion with representatives from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball as well as anti-drug advocates. Baltimore Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro took part via conference call.

Afterward, Davis said the discussion focused on how the leagues should test athletes and ways to educate young people on the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. He said he expects Congress will pass some legislation.