FACTBOX: Key points in report on drugs in baseball

(Reuters) - Some key points made in former Sen. George Mitchell's report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, released on Thursday.

* There was widespread use of illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs by Major League Baseball players for more than a decade, in violation of federal law and baseball policy.

* The use of steroids and human growth hormone "poses a serious threat to the integrity of the game," giving users an unfair advantage in playing the game and raising questions about the validity of baseball records.

* It named 78 players including some of the game's biggest stars -- home run king Barry Bonds and top pitcher Roger Clemens among them -- and said players from all 30 teams were found to use drugs at some time in their careers.

* It found 54 players not previously linked to drug use and named 16 others identified in press reports plus eight who came up in a separate federal investigation.

* The report, however, advised against disciplining players for past violations of baseball's rules, including the players named. The commissioner should discipline players if he determines their conduct was so serious that action is necessary to maintain the integrity of the game.

* Baseball's response to drug use by its players was "slow to develop and initially ineffective" and its current drug-testing program has been only partially effective. The sport needs to do more to address the problem.

* The players' union, the Major Leagues Baseball Players Association, and its leaders were "largely uncooperative" with the investigation.

* Report recommends a year-round, unannounced drug testing program that should be administered by an independent authority. MLB and the players' union need to agree in their next labor contract on a "state of the art" drug testing program.

* Use of performance-enhancing drugs by professional athletes encourages young people to use them. At least hundreds of thousands of high school-age athletes "are still illegally using steroids."

* Baseball also needs a comprehensive education program to inform players -- "and others" -- about the health dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

* Mitchell interviewed more than 700 witnesses -- 550 with various jobs in baseball, including Commissioner Bud Selig (who ordered the probe) and 68 former players, who agreed to be interviewed. More than 400 other players refused to be interviewed.

(Reporting by Walter Bagley, editing by Chris Wilson)