Brazilian legend Romario tests positive for doping

RIO DE JANEIRO: Veteran Brazilian footballer Romario has tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended from playing, Brazil's football federation said.
 
The suspension, until an arbitration panel reviews his case, stems from a doping test on Oct 28 after a Brazilian league encounter between his club Vasco da Gama and Palmeiras.
 
The 41-year-old Romario, who led Brazil to World Cup victory in 1994, admitted to failing the test but denied the doping charges, saying it was due to a medication to prevent hair loss that he had already been taking for a few months.
 
"This is not doping," he said at a press conference Tuesday evening. "For me it was something that would never influence my performance. It was not the first time I used it. If I had known it was prohibited, I would not have used it."
 
The medication apparently contained the banned substance finasteride. If he is found guilty at proceedings set for early next year, he could be suspended for up to 120 days.
 
The near-legendary centre forward was FIFA Player of the Year 1994 and by his own count has scored more than 1,000 goals. Nearing the end of his illustrious career, Romario said he hoped the matter would be resolved quickly.
 
"I will turn 42 in January and the longer I am left not playing, the worse it will be," he said.