SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – With some of its biggest stars under suspicion and lawmakers demanding action, Major League Baseball adopted a tougher steroid-testing program that will suspend first-time offenders for 10 days and randomly test players year-round.

The agreement was hailed by baseball management and its union yesterday, but scorned by some because the penalties are less harsh than those in Olympic sports.

“We’re acting today to help restore the confidence of our fans,” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said.

A first positive test would result in a penalty of 10 days, a second positive test in a 30-day ban, a third positive in a 60-day penalty, and a fourth positive test in a one-year ban – all without pay. A player who tests positive a fifth time would be subject to discipline determined by the commissioner.

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

Since the old agreement was reached in 2002, baseball has come under increased scrutiny about steroids. Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield testified before a federal grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

“I will be surprised if over time this doesn’t take care of the problem virtually completely,” union head Donald Fehr said.

The old deal wasn’t due to expire until December 2006, but the union took the rare step of renegotiating a major section of its labor contract. The new rules run until December 2008.

“It appears to be a significant breakthrough,” Senator John McCain said. McCain, who had threatened baseball with legislation, said he would have preferred a 10- to 15-game suspension for a first offense and a permanent ban for multiple positive tests.

Dr. Gary Wadler of the World Anti-Doping Agency called the new policy “somewhat disingenuous” and “a Band-Aid.”

“There is some movement,” he said. “It’s not all public relations, but a lot of it is public relations, and we’ll have to see the details.”

The plan certainly isn’t good enough for World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound.

“Basically, instead of having to hold up the liquor store five times before you get a one-year suspension, you only have to hold it up four times,” he said.”

In addition to one mandatory test each season, players will be randomly selected for additional tests, with no limit on the number, and for the first time will be subject to random tests during the off-season. In addition, diuretics and many steroid precursors were added to the banned list.

As in the previous deal, a player who tests positive will be targeted for more tests along with those who within the previous 12 months give “reasonable cause.”