DETROIT — Major League Baseball will not agree to the changes demanded by the International Olympic Committee for reinstating the sport for the 2016 Games.

The IOC voted last week to kick out baseball and softball after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. IOC president Jacques Rogge said the sports would be eligible to reapply in 2009, but they could not be reinstated for the 2012 London Games.

Rogge said baseball, which became a medal sport in 1992, would be reinstated only if it allows its best players to compete in the Olympics and adopts tougher anti-doping rules.

"I was saddened by what the Olympics did. Do I believe it will affect the way the sport is run? No," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said before last night's All-Star game.

While professionals played in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, only players not on 40-man major league rosters were eligible. During a question-and-answer session with the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Selig said sending top stars to the Olympics was not possible.

"I'm not going to stop the season," he said. "There is no set of circumstances for me to be able to say to teams in late August, 'Well, now, take two weeks off, guys. We'll see you all except 20 or 25 people, whatever numbers there are, that are going to play for either the United States or for the other countries. That's just not practical. In the heart of pennant races, this is just absurd."

Selig said the steroid issue "wasn't a valid reason" for the IOC to cite.

He awaits a response from the players' union to his April proposal to increase penalties for positive steroid tests to 50 games for a first offense, 100 for a second and a lifetime ban for a third. The current penalties are 10 days for a first offense, 30 for a second, 60 for a third and one year for a fourth. After that, the commissioner can decide.

Selig said if players don't agree to tougher rules, he would favor legislation.

Several congressmen have pushed for federal legislation that would mandate tougher standards.

Selig also defended San Francisco's Barry Bonds, who testified before a federal grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution. Bonds, who has not been indicted, is 52 homers shy of Hank Aaron's career record of 755 but has not played this season while recovering from knee surgery.

"Barry hasn't been convicted of anything. It's unfair at this point," he said of criticism of the outfielder.

On other topics, Selig said:

• The status of Pete Rose, whose application for reinstatement to baseball has been pending since 1997, has not changed in the past year.

• Remarks by Rep. Tom Davis critical of billionaire George Soros won't be considered as baseball weighs offers for the Washington Nationals.

• The Florida Marlins remain confident they will be able to assemble financing for a new ballpark.

• Whether New York investor Stuart Sternberg, who last year bought 48 percent of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, takes control from managing general partner Vince Naimoli is "a thing that he and Vince Naimoli are going to have to work out."

• The 2008 All-Star game will be in an American League city after NL sites the next two years (Pittsburgh and San Francisco).

• Major League Baseball expects revenue will be $4.5 billion to $4.6 billion this year and has more than $3.5 billion in debt.

Note

• Baltimore left-hander Erik Bedard prepared for his return from the 15-day disabled list by throwing five shutout innings in Salisbury, Md., in a rehabilitation stint with Class A Delmarva.