New York ? Baseball players and owners have reached an agreement on a tougher steroid-testing program that will include a penalty for first-time offenders, the Associated Press has learned.

A first positive test would result in a suspension of up to 10 days, and the penalties would increase to a one-year suspension for a fourth positive test, a high-ranking team official said on condition of anonymity.

Under the previous agreement, a first positive test resulted only in treatment, and a second positive test was subject to a 15-day suspension. Only with a fifth positive test was a player subject to a one-year ban under the old plan.

Commissioner Bud Selig, asked about a steroid agreement at the owners meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., declined comment, but did say an announcement would be made today. Gene Orza, the union’s chief operating officer, also declined comment.

Baseball will regard the suspensions for first-time offenses as a big step because steroids users are likely to be identified publicly — all other baseball suspensions, such as for on-field offenses, are by games, not days.

However, the penalty falls far short of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code, which has been adopted by most Olympic sports. It says the “norm” is two-year bans for a first positive test and a lifetime ban for a second, unless there are mitigating circumstances.

“I’m glad we could come to an agreement,” said Chicago Cubs pitcher Mike Remlinger, who was briefed on the deal Wednesday. “It was the right thing to do. I think it was something that needed to be done, and I think players understand it needed to be addressed.”

The sides spent the past month negotiating the deal after the union’s executive board gave its staff approval to pursue an agreement on a more rigorous testing program. Some in Congress threatened to take action unless baseball reached an agreement on its own.