Washington ? Major league baseball should not ban dietary supplements containing ephedra unless the government does, an official of the players’ union testified Thursday to lawmakers looking into health problems related to the herbal stimulant.

The issue is particularly relevant to baseball because of the death in February of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, who was taking a supplement with ephedra.

“The position of the players’ association has long been that players should not be prohibited from using any substances that the U.S. government has effectively determined are not unsafe for consumption by other American consumers,” said Eugene Orza, general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Assn.

Following Bechler’s death, baseball commissioner Bud Selig banned players with minor league contracts from taking ephedra but did not prohibit major leaguers from using the stimulant.

Other sports leagues like the NFL and MLS ban ephedra.

“By taking decisive action, Congress can address many of the concerns related to the use of ephedrine by its constituency,” said Adolpho A. Birch III, the NFL’s counsel for labor relations.

Ephedra has been linked to as many as 100 deaths. Under pointed questioning from House members, FDA commissioner Mark McClellan said Thursday the agency is looking at taking stiffer action.

“A ban on ephedra use is in the range of options we are considering,” he said.