TAMPA – Gary Sheffield told ESPN last night that he would take a drug test to clear his name from the recent speculation that he uses steroids in the wake of the BALCO case in which he testified.

However, Gene Orza, the Players Association’s No. 2 man, advised the Yankees’ right fielder against taking the test.

“I told him there will be no drug test,” Orza said. “I told him it would be in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement if he took the test.”