The House Government Reform Committee subpoenaed several players and baseball officials to appear at this week's hearings, but both league and players-union leaders questioned Congress' ability to order the players to appear. In response, angry Congressional leaders threatened to fine or jail players who do not appear, and also threatened to revoke baseball's coveted antitrust exemption if the league did not cooperate.

Committee chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.) said he has the votes to hold the league and players in contempt of Congress. "These people are not above the law," Davis said. "They may fly in private planes and make millions of dollars and be on baseball cards, but a subpoena is exactly what it says it is. They have to appear."

Davis said he was still negotiating with the league over the witness list for the hearings. Among those who could appear are Jason Giambi, Jose Canseco, Curt Schilling, Frank Thomas, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmero. Barry Bonds, a potential all-time home-run leader who also has been under a cloud of suspicion of steroid use, could be called to a future hearing, said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). "This may not be the last hearing we hold on this subject," he said.

Critics have accused the House committee of grandstanding by calling the steroid hearings and demanding that baseball players appear. But Davis replied: "It is a public-health crisis, and our testimony from medical experts is going to show this. We have the parents of kids who have used steroids and committed suicide. Over a half a million youth are using steroids, and these major-league players are their idols."

The players who appear at the hearings may have to choose between lying under oath about their steroid use or admitting use and invalidating their baseball contracts.

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