With a congressional committee due to hold a hearing on steroid use in baseball on March 17, members of the committee have threatened to subpoena baseball players and officials if they refuse to testify before the committee voluntarily.

Among the people the committee has asked to testify are Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Frank Thomas, Curt Schilling, Commissioner Bud Selig, Players Association executive Donald Fehr and front office guru Sandy Alderson.

Thus far, only Jose Canseco and Frank Thomas have volunteered to testify. Canseco is retired from the game and in the process of promoting his book about steroid use in the major leagues.

David Marin, a spokesman for committee chairman Tom Davis, a Republican Congressman from Virginia, told the New York Times, 'We hope subpoenas won't be necessary, but we are prepared to move forward with subpoenas tomorrow if we receive information that witnesses are not willing to appear voluntarily.'

In addition to those associated with major league baseball, the committee will also call a number of medical experts to discuss the effects of steroids on the body and various issues about testing. The parents of two amateur baseball players who committed suicide after using steroids have also been asked to appear before the committee.

Baseball may fear negative PR if some of its biggest stars have to testify before Congress only two weeks before the start of the new season. But, it appears there will not be a choice. Those players that took steroids have made their choice. This appears to be just one of the consequences.