NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Several members of Congress are sending a request to major league baseball to end the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport.

Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., on Wednesday signed the request, according to the Herald of New Britain. The letter, which calls the use of drugs "morally offensive to America's competitive spirit,'' asks baseball officials and players to adopt a drug testing policy to eliminate steroid use.

"Instituting mandatory, random drug testing is the only way to signal that our nation's pastime is serious about banning steroids,'' said the letter to commissioner Bud Selig and Don Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Greg Bouris, a spokesman for the players association, deferred to Fehr, who was traveling Wednesday and not available for comment.

"The association certainly recognizes this is a serious and complicated issue... and it will continue to be discussed,'' Bouris said.

Spokesmen for major league baseball were not immediately available for comment.

Johnson said she believes it's "an appropriate time for Congress to bring some pressure on both sides.''

The letter is co-authored by former major league pitcher Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., and former Nebraska football coach Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb.

"Having been in athletics for a long period of time, I saw the devastation steroids can cause,'' Osborne said. "I think we're just trying to bring a little focus to the issue.''