By JOHN DELCOS
The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

TAMPA, Fla. - 'Somebody has to die before anything is done' is often the conventional response to a controversial issue.

Well, somebody did die - Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler - and there's been fallout from all directions, ranging from commissioner Bud Selig's call to ban ephedrine to New York Yankees pitcher David Wells' revelation the supplement might have been the cause for an irregular heartbeat during spring training in 1996 while with the Orioles.

The change-up is Wells still uses supplements and doesn't believe they should be banned as they are by the NFL, NCAA and International Olympic Committee.

"I don't take it every day," said Wells, who reported to camp at 242 pounds. "I still take it when I feel sluggish. It peps you up. It's the equivalent of three cups of coffee."

Manager Joe Torre said he was unaware Wells used a supplement and would advise the pitcher to consult his physician.

"The trick in all this is the false sense of security that something over the counter is still safe," Torre said.

Yankees team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon favors banning ephedrine and advises players not to use it, but admits its legality ties his hands in ordering players to stop.

Wells wouldn't stop if asked.

"I'd still take it," Wells said. "It's not illegal and there's nothing they can do about it."

The Orioles could not confirm whether ephedrine was a contributing factor to the incident.

At the time, Wells denied using any drug or supplement, but amended that Saturday and admitted taking Ripped Fuel, which is available over the counter in most health and nutrition stores. Wells said he occasionally uses Hydroxycut as a stimulant, "when I need it."

Wells, who lost 28 pounds since undergoing back surgery in 2001, has repeatedly said - even as recently as two weeks ago -that it was attributable to reducing carbohydrates, eating protein, fruits and vegetables, and "a lot of cardio."

Until now, Wells never admitted using supplements to lose weight.

If Major League Baseball is so concerned about supplements and amphetamines, then why are they permitted?

"We've got a great union," Wells flippantly said in a potentially combustible comment union leader Donald Fehr will eventually attempt to extinguish.

"At some point down the road we'll have some scientific reports, which will tell us some things," Fehr said. "We may be able to draw conclusions from that. We may not. We'll just have to wait and see. You take another look at things as circumstances warrant."

The circumstances are Bechler died Monday, the day after collapsing with heatstroke, and a Florida medical examiner said it could be linked to an ephedra-based diet pill, Xenadrine RFA-1.

The examiner did not say ephedrine was the cause.

This much is known: Bechler was trying to lose weight, hadn't been eating solid foods regularly, and had ephedrine in his system.

Weight has always been an issue with Wells, who said Toronto fined him $100-a-pound for being over a prescribed limit during his first tenure with the team, 1987-92, something a Blue Jays source couldn't confirm.

Wells said teams apply incredible pressure on players to lose weight, and because of it, players will test the limits, especially when jobs are at stake. If steroids are illegal and players use them despite the known dangers, it can be reasonably assumed ephedrine, which is legal, will be used.

"There is nothing wrong with it. It's legal," Wells said. "I don't see why so many are upset about it. You have to read the labels, read the warnings. Look, too much caffeine can (hurt) you, too. Why don't they ban coffee? What's next? Why don't they ban Gatorade because of the sugar?"