Washington D.C. -- United States Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has joined Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) in introducing the Clean Sports Act of 2005, a bill that would set minimum drug-testing standards for major professional sports leagues. The bill would make it unlawful for a professional sports organization to operate in interstate commerce without meeting certain drug-testing requirements.

“I am pleased to join Senator McCain today as an original co-sponsor on this important piece of legislation,” said Chairman Stevens. “Doping is a stain on all levels of athletics. It taints the accomplishments of our elite athletes, creates unattainable expectations for our young athletes, and threatens their physical well being. This legislation would send a message, not only to professional athletes, but youngsters as well, that the use of performance-enhancing substances has no place in sports, at any level.

” The bill would require professional sports leagues to adopt the banned substances list set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and adopted and followed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) when testing U.S. Olympic athletes.

The bill applies to the four major sports leagues, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League. Under the bill, players who test positive for a banned substance would face penalties similar to the Olympic system, which includes a two-year ban for the first offense, and a lifetime ban for the second. Players would be subject to three unannounced tests during their seasons of play, and two unannounced tests during their leagues’ off-seasons.

“This bill takes major steps to address steroids as their use becomes more pervasive in professional and amateur sports,” said Stevens. “The Clean Sports Act of 2005 sets strict, uniform standards and severe penalties for first-time and repeat offenders, making it clear that a zero tolerance approach is the best way to ensure that performance-enhancers play no role in sports in America.”