SAO PAULO, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Romario, a former FIFA player of the year, was suspended for 120 days after testing positive for a substance that can be used to mask steroid use.
Romario, who plays for Vasco de Gama in Brazil tested positive for the banned substance finasteride after a game in October. A Brazilian soccer disciplinary committee voted 3-2 to suspend Romario. His lawyers said he was expected to appeal the decision.
He said the positive test result came about because he was using the hair-loss medication Propecia, which contains finasteride.
Earlier this year, Internacional's Marcao was suspended for 120 days after a positive test indicated finasteride use. Marcao also claimed to have been using Propecia.
Romario, 41, was selected the FIFA player of the year in 1994, the year he helped Brazil win the World Cup. He has a FIFA-recognized total of 929 goals but unofficially has 1,000 goals.
