NEW YORK — Former slugger Sammy Sosa tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, The New York Times reported yesterday on its Web site.

The Times, citing lawyers familiar with the case, reported Sosa is one of 104 players who tested positive in a 2003 baseball survey. The paper did not identify the drug.

Sosa is sixth on baseball's career home run list with 609, most of them for the Chicago Cubs. He has not played in the majors since 2007 with Texas.

Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, told The Associated Press he had no comment on the report.

Several of the game's biggest stars, including home-run king Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire, have been tainted by the sport's steroids scandal.

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez is serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy; just a few months ago, New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez admitted using steroids from 2001-03 with Texas.

Sosa testified before Congress in 2005 and denied any wrongdoing, saying, "To be clear, I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs."

Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for a banned drug, and Jose Canseco said he used them.

Sosa sat alongside Palmeiro, Canseco and McGwire at that 2005 hearing before Congress.

In his statement to the House committee on government reform March 17, 2005, Sosa said: "I have never injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything."

Sosa, now 40, and McGwire engaged in a race in 1998 to break Roger Maris' single-season record of 61 home runs, a chase that captivated the country.

McGwire set the mark with 70, while Sosa finished with 66.