A report on steroids in Major League Baseball is expected to contain the names of 50 or more current and retired players who are linked to performance-enhancing drugs, the New York Times said Wednesday.
Probe chairman George Mitchell is expected to release the results of his 20-month investigation at a news conference on Thursday in New York.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig has scheduled a news conference for later in the day in the same city.
MLB officials visited Mitchell's law firm DLA Piper on Tuesday where they were given access to copies of the report before they were made public.
Without any positive tests to go by Mitchell was forced to gather evidence through phone records, cancelled cheques, receipts and shipping forms, the Times said.
The Times spoke to two sources who said Mitchell's report contained the names of dozens of players who used steroids to boost their performance on the field. The Times did not say whether it had obtained the names of any of the players.
Mitchell's report is also expected to shed light on why baseball ignored performance-enhancing drugs for years and the players' union's attempts to scuttle the probe.
Because of the difficulties in interviewing current players who were reluctant to talk, much of Mitchell's report is based on information gathered from managers, general managers, former players, strength coaches and ex-New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.
Radomski pled guilty in a separate investigation earlier this year to providing players with performance-enhancing drugs between 1985-1995. As part of a plea bargain with federal officials, Radomski provided a list of names to the Mitchell investigation.
Players that have been linked to performance-enhancing drugs in recent years includes, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, and the late Ken Caminiti.
The release of the Mitchell Report comes less than a month after Bonds, the sport's all-time home run king, was indicted on four counts of perjury and one for obstruction of justice. Bonds pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Selig hired Mitchell, a former US Senate majority leader, for the job in March 2006.
Some have questioned how deep Mitchell might be willing to go in order to expose steroid use since his salary is being paid by Selig and he is also a director of the Boston Red Sox.
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