Australian footballer, Lazaridis tests positive for hair-loss treatment

Former Australia winger Stan Lazaridis has tested positive for a banned substance, his A-League club Perth Glory said in a statement on their website.

The 34-year-old, who played for English clubs West Ham United and Birmingham City, received notification from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) that he had tested positive for a prohibited drug.

It is believed the drug is finasteride, which is most commonly used in treatment for hair loss. It is not performance-enhancing but is on the banned list because it can be used as a masking agent.

Lazaridis has since been granted a therapeutic use exemption to take the substance, but was not covered at the time of the test last November.

"The prescribed treatment contains a substance which may act as a masking agent and as such is prohibited under Football Federation Australia's (FFA) anti-doping policy," Perth Glory said in a statement. 

"Perth Glory FC will support Lazaridis through the process."

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has convened an anti-doping tribunal to decide whether Lazaridis, who faces a ban of up to two years, has committed an offence.

Lazaridis played his last international for the Socceroos against Paraguay in October. He made over 50 appearances for his country and was in last year's World Cup squad although he did not play a match in Germany.