Congress looks into smokeless tobacco in baseball

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Major League Baseball Players Association is telling Congress that it discourages members from using smokeless tobacco, but players should be allowed to use substances that are legal and available to the general public.

MLBPA chief labor counsel David Prouty is among the witnesses who submitted written testimony ahead of Wednesday's hearing before a House subcommittee about the use of smokeless tobacco by baseball players.

Subcommittee chairman Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, says he wants to know why smokeless tobacco is banned in the minors but allowed in the majors.

A Harvard professor says research shows about one-third of major leaguers report they use smokeless tobacco, and he says that contributes to use by youth in America.