WASHINGTON - Washington Wizards guard Juan Dixon has agreed to testify at a hearing on NBA steroid testing policies being convened by a House committee that expressed disappointment that other players have so far declined to appear.
House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis "is not pleased that the [players'] union hasn't been able to fulfill its pledge to secure more players" for tomorrow's hearing, Davis spokesman David Marin said yesterday.
The committee says it doesn't want to suggest that basketball has the same problems with steroids as baseball, but that it wants to investigate further and determine why the NBA doesn't have a stronger anti-steroids program.
The committee invited Dixon, the former Maryland star and Baltimore native, and several other NBA players not because they are suspected of using performance-boosting substances, but rather because they have anti-steroids messages to convey.
The committee - which earlier held hearings on steroid use in Major League Baseball and the NFL - says its objectives are to educate youths about the dangers of steroid use and to learn whether professional sports leagues' steroid testing and discipline procedures are working.
Dixon's name was proposed by the National Basketball Players Association.
Although Marin did not disclose the names of others invited, another official said Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill is among those the panel has considered. It's not certain if Hill has been formally invited and, if so, why he is not scheduled to appear.
Said Marin: "We first invited players who had made compelling public statements about the lack of steroid use in basketball and the need to tell young people that steroid use is harmful.
NBPA spokesman Dan Wasserman was not available to receive a call seeking comment.
Also scheduled to appear are NBA commissioner David Stern and Keith Jones, a Houston Rockets trainer.
After baseball's testing program was criticized for being too lax, commissioner Bud Selig last month proposed toughening penalties more than fivefold for a first offense and imposing a lifetime ban for a third violation.
Selig is scheduled to make a return visit to Capitol Hill today to testify before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee chaired by Florida Republican Cliff Stearns. Baseball players union chief Donald Fehr is also scheduled to appear during two days of hearings, along with the commissioners of the NFL, NHL and Major League Soccer.
