New York ? Baseball took its first move toward banning ephedra by prohibiting players with minor-league contracts from taking the substance linked to the death of Baltimore pitcher Steve Bechler.

The commissioner’s office is powerless to extend the ban to major leaguers, who are covered by the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ association.

While the union opposes a ban, union head Donald Fehr sent a letter to a senator Thursday saying players would welcome a review of ephedra by the federal government, which could lead to the regulation or prohibition of the substance.

For now, commissioner Bud Selig made the decision Monday to ban the use of ephedra in the minors, and notice was transmitted to the teams in a memorandum by Jennifer Gefsky, a lawyer in the labor relations department of the commissioner’s office.

“The minor leagues have always been the testing ground,” said Brian Falkenborg, a pitcher at spring training with Seattle on a minor-league contract. “We’ve been drug-tested for a while now, and they’ve always tested for amphetamines.”