FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons likes the idea of placing stronger warning labels on products containing ephedra, and said he probably wouldn't have used the drug if he knew the risk involved.

Gibbons lost 15 pounds before the 2002 season while taking Xenadrine RFA-1, but he's sworn off the drug in the wake of teammate Steve Bechler's death and the Food and Drug Administration's effort to have stronger warning labels placed on ephedra-based products.

Told that the FDA wants bottles of ephedra to bear warning labels that the pills can cause heart attacks, strokes or even kill, Gibbons said, "That would scare the heck out of me. If I was a young kid, I'd definitely look at that and say, 'No way.'''

A Florida medical examiner has said Bechler's death on Feb. 17 was linked to the use of ephedra. A bottle of Xenadrine was found in the pitcher's locker.

Cytodyne Technologies, maker of Xenadrine RFA-1, would not comment on the FDA announcement.

"I'd stay away from that out of respect for Steve,'' Gibbons said.