McLEAN, Va. -- Seventy-nine percent of major league players would agree to independent testing for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, according to a survey by USA Today.

USA Today poll questions

Players were polled between June 12-23, with 556 of 750 players answering at least one question: Would you accept independent testing for steroids and performance enhancing drugs? Yes 79% (432) No 17% (91) Depends on if union gives OK 4% (21) What portion of players use drugs? All 0 (0%) More than half 10% (55) Half 4% (20) Fewer than half 75% (395) None 3% (14) No opinion 8% (43) Do players feel pressured to take drugs? Strongly agree 7% (33) Agree 37% (178) Disagree 34% (164) Strongly disagree 11% (54) Don't know 12% (58) -- USA Today

Forty-four percent of players in the newspaper's survey, published in Monday's editions, said they felt pressure to take steroids.

''I don't have a problem with getting tested because I have nothing to hide,'' New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was quoted as saying. ''Steroids are a big issue. If anything like a home run or any injury happens, people say it's steroids. That's not fair.''

While owners have proposed testing for steroids, the players' association has traditionally resisted random testing, saying it would violate individual rights.

Just 17 percent of the players polled back the union's stance, USA Today said. Of 750 players polled from June 12-23, 556 responded to at least one question, the newspaper said.

Earlier this year, former MVPs Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti admitted using steroids.

''People should know that players are working hard,'' Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi was quoted as saying. ''They have trainers. They have people helping them plan their diets, even cooking for them. You can't just take a pill and expect to hit home runs. You have to have talent. Steroids don't help you hit a baseball.''

Fans are even more in favor of testing. A separate USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll found that 86 percent of baseball fans want players to be tested for steroids. Nearly 80 percent of them think the drug has played a role in the recent outburst of offensive records. Fifty-six percent of fans think fewer than half of major leaguers are taking performance-enhancing drugs.

It isn't just offensive numbers that are on the rise. Injuries have also been increasing at a disturbing rate. But could that be connected to steroid use as well?

Birmingham, Ala., orthopedist James Andrews treats many professional athletes, and told USA Today that he thinks it could be related to steroid use. A USA Today database study showed that between 1992 and 2001, trips to the disabled list to major leaguers increased 32 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.