NEW YORK (AP) – Baseball owners and players announced a stricter agreement on steroid testing and penalties Thursday, a deal the sport thinks will stop suspicion and end questions about integrity.

Here, in question and answer form, is a look at the issue:

Q: What’s the biggest difference in baseball’s new steroid agreement?

A: Players who test positive the first time will be suspended for 10 days. Baseball will say the suspensions resulted from a violation of the joint drug prevention and testing program, meaning players will be publicly identified. In the previous deal, first-time offenders were sent for counseling and their names did not become public.

Q: Will players lose money if they test positive?

A: All suspensions for drug use are without pay.

Q: Will they be tested more often?

A: Yes. In 2004, each player was given one test from the start of spring training until the end of the regular season, which included an initial sample and a follow-up within five to seven days. Starting in 2005, there will be a still unspecified number of players randomly selected for additional tests, and it’s possible a player could be tested two or more times. In addition, there will be testing during the offseason for the first time.

Q: Did the banned list change?

A: Yes. Diuretics, masking agents, Human Growth Hormone and steroid precursors were added.

Q: What was left out?

A: The biggest omission was amphetamines, which some say is an even bigger problem in baseball than steroids. In addition, there will be no blood tests for Human Growth Hormone, although baseball expects a valid urine test to be developed shortly.

Q: Why will this make a difference?

A: Players do not want to be publicly branded as steroid users, which may be a deterrent to steroid use.

Q: Can players appeal suspensions?

A: Players can challenge only the test results.

Q: Why are some criticizing the agreement?

A: Those in the Olympic movement say it falls short of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Code, which calls for a two-year ban for first-time offenders unless there are mitigating circumstances. In addition, WADA has a far wider list of banned substances.

Q: Why didn’t baseball management attempt to get a deal along the lines of WADA’s?

A: U.S. labor laws, which the Olympic movement is not subject to, leave matters such as steroid testing to the collective bargaining process between management and unions.

Q: What about drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, LSD, opiates and PCP?

A: They remain covered by the 2002 agreement, which does not allow for testing unless a management-union panel finds “reasonable cause.” Players are subject to discipline if they are convicted for use or distribution of a prohibited substance.

Q: What about marijuana use?

A: Marijuana use of itself is subject to counseling and fines, not suspensions. However, a conviction for sale or distribution is subject to suspension.

AP-ES-01-13-05 1832EST