By ALAN SNEL
Florida Today

The man who built baseball's players union into the strongest in sports says a congressman who wants Major League Baseball to ban ephedra "hasn't done a damn thing" about outlawing the substance that is suspected of contributing to the spring training death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler.

Marvin Miller blasted California Democrat Henry Waxman, saying, "He, as a member of Congress, hasn't done a damn thing about outlawing ephedrine. He should be ashamed of himself. Any kid without a prescription can walk into an herbal shop and buy an ephedrine product. And he, as a congressman, hasn't lifted a finger. That's what I call nerve."

The 23-year-old Bechler, who was taking ephedrine-laced diet pills called Xenadrine RFA-1, died from heat stroke eight days ago. The Broward County medical examiner said the ephedra product was a "factor" in the pitcher's death, but he's waiting for toxicology tests that should be ready in two to three weeks.

After Bechler's death, Waxman asked baseball commissioner Bud Selig if he was aware of ephedra's dangers. "Despite this voluminous evidence pointing to the dangers of ephedra-containing dietary supplements, their use is still permitted in Major League Baseball. I would like to know why this serious safety issue has not been addressed," Waxman wrote to Selig.

Selig said he was heartbroken about Bechler's death, but has declined to comment about what baseball will do - if anything - about the ephedrine issue.

The NFL, NCAA and International Olympic Committee have banned ephedra, which is a stimulant that quickens the heart rate and can cause irregular heartbeat, strokes and seizures.

Miller, the former steel industry labor lawyer who is credited with making the players union the most formidable in professional sports, said Waxman "has dropped the ball" and "wants someone else to pick it up."

Miller, who recalled when baseball clubhouses had bowls of amphetamines for players in the late 1960s, said it's up to the federal government or local governments to ban ephedrine products - not the sport.

Miller did say baseball and union officials can work on a plan to conduct scientific tests to determine whether ephedrine products are dangerous. If they're deemed dangerous, then baseball should start an education program to inform players about the health hazards, he said.

Baseball union head Donald Fehr wants to wait for Bechler's toxicology report before suggesting any union action regarding ephedrine products. Orioles owner Peter Angelos has called for baseball to ban ephedrine and said the union last year rejected an ephedrine ban during contract talks.