WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The commissioners of all four major sports in the United States will appear before Congress next week for two days of hearings on steroid legislation.

Bud Selig of Major League Baseball, Gary Bettman of the National Hockey League and David Stern of the National Basketball Association will be among the witnesses called to testify before the House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee on May 18. Paul Tagliabue of the NFL will be on hand the following day.

In addition, union chiefs Donald Fehr of baseball and Billy Hunter of the NBA will also testify, as will Olympic gold medal runner and former chairman of the United States Anti-Doping Agency Frank Shorter, and Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber.

The subcommittee, which has heard testimony from baseball and football, has been developing legislation -- the Drug Free Sports Act of 2005 (H.R. 1862) -- that would force uniform testing throughout the sports world in the United States.

"In my hearing on steroids in sports, we heard of various efforts by sports groups to curb steroid use, the serious health effects of these drugs, and the tragic consequences of steroids use by young people," said subcommittee chairman Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), author of H.R. 1862. "It is clear that legislation is needed to establish uniform standards and heavier penalties for steroid use.

"Professional sports expect world-class performances from their players, and these athletes should be subject to world-class testing standards. I look forward to hearing testimony on my bill from the commissioners of the professional sports leagues as well as the leaders of the players unions."

The bill provides for random testing of each athlete at least once per year, as well as testing for substances on the prohibited substances list issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The penalties are severe -- a two-year suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for a second positive test.

Athletes will have the ability to appeal within 30 days, and the leagues who don't adhere to the policies would face a $5 million fine for the first offense and $1 million for each day of non-compliance thereafter.

Approval of the bipartisan legislation could come later this year.

"Steroids and other illegal drugs have tarnished baseball for a generation of fans, including this one," Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Tex) said. "As troubling as the shadow of steroids over professional sports has become, it may seem far removed from the lives of everyday Americans. But the most serious consequence of this problem can be found among our youth. The blind eye turned by many has become a green light to thousands of amateur athletes across this country."