Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

MILWAUKEE - Bud Selig expects owners to approved a toughened drug agreement when they meet Thursday.

"We have no controversy. None. Zero," the baseball commissioner said Wednesday as the two-day session began.

Players and owners have until May 23 to ratify the drug agreement their negotiators signed off on last month. The deal increases the frequency of tests and the authority of the program's independent administrator.

Selig, however, didn't want to discuss this week's new indictment of home-run king Barry Bonds, charged Wednesday in federal court with 14 counts of making a false declaration to a grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice. Bonds has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs,

"It doesn't go away," Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane said.

"I don't think it has any effect on the game right now, because I think that's an issue that Barry Bonds and his legal team need to deal with."

McLane said the public has "kind of moved on" from Bonds' legal troubles, but still hopes they come to an end soon.

"I hope this can be resolved," McLane said. "It needs to be resolved. It's been lingering for several years."

Bonds was not offered a new contract by San Francisco after last season and has not been signed by another team. The players' association last week expressed concern to the commissioner's office over the lack of offers to Bonds, asking for additional information about the off-season's free-agent market but stopping short of filing a collusion grievance on Bonds' behalf.

Selig declined comment on the collusion issue.

McLane said the Astros never considered signing Bonds, noting that Houston has plenty of talented outfielders.

"I think if you look at his age, his injuries that he has served, his ability to play, I just think his age and productivity (are negatives)," McLane said. "Particularly for a National League team."

With baseball trying to move on, McLane said the new drug policy is a positive step. "I think so," McLane said. "We're learning to solve the problem."