MLB SHOCKED BY REPORTS OF RAMPANT DRUG ABUSE

NEW YORK (AFP) - Some of baseball's most prominent stars, including legendary pitcher Roger Clemens, were labelled drug users on Thursday in a long-awaited report that reveals rampant steroids use in the sport,

Probe chief George Mitchell said there has been widespread anabolic steroid use for more than a decade and that all 30 Major League Baseball teams have one or more players using performance enhancing drugs.

"The evidence we uncovered indicates this is not an isolated problem involving a few players and clubs. Many players were involved," Mitchell said.

The release of the findings of former US senator Mitchell ends 20 months of speculation about some of the players who used drugs to boost their performance on the field.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig has scheduled a news conference for later in the day here. The player's union is expected to also hold a news conference.

"For more than a decade there has been widespread use of illegal substances in pro baseball," Mitchell said. "I was asked to conduct this investigation and report as fairly as I could I have done so."

Mitchell called for baseball's drug testing to be stepped up and made recommendations for change to prevent future abuse. He also called for an outside agency to administer the testing programme and more transparency.

Baseball officials had a chance to review the more than 400-page report on Wednesday before it became public. They said their biggest concern was making sure that releasing the contents of the report wouldn't violate their contract with the union.

Mitchell's report didn't make any recommendations on what type of punishment those named should face saying that is up to the commissioner.

But it did shed some light on why baseball ignored performance-enhancing drugs for years and the players' union's attempts to scuttle the probe.

Mitchell's probe met fiery resistance from the player's union.

Because of the difficulties in interviewing current players who were refused to talk, Mitchell said much of his report is based on information gathered from managers, general managers, former players, strength coaches and especially ex-New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.

Players that have been previously linked to performance-enhancing drugs include Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, and the late Ken Caminiti.

The release of the Mitchell Report comes less than a month after Bonds, the sport's all-time home run king, was indicted on four counts of perjury and one for obstruction of justice.

Bonds pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Selig hired Mitchell, a former US Senate majority leader, for the job in March 2006.