By IANS
New Delhi : Former Birmingham and West Ham United winger Stan Lazaridis of Australia has been banned for 12 months after failing a drugs test, The Age newspaper reported Tuesday.
The 35-year-old Lazaridis tested positive for the masking agent finasteride, which he was taking in a bid to prevent hair loss.
In its judgement, the Football Federation of Australia said Lazaridis, now playing for Perth Glory, had not intended to cheat.
“To suggest Lazaridis was a drug cheat would be doing him a very grave disservice indeed,” it said in a statement.
The ban has been backdated to the date of the positive test so he will be eligible to play for Perth Glory again Dec 2.
“The tribunal found that Stan had not taken the prohibited substance to mask a performance enhancing drug, but for legitimate therapeutic purposes as prescribed by his doctor,” said FFA chief executive Ben Buckley.
“The problem related to the processes, which is why it is so important for all athletes to be vigilant.”
Lazaridis spent four seasons at West Ham before joining Birmingham for 1.5 million pounds.
The Australian returned home from England last year.
He had permission to use the drug, which he takes for alopecia, in England but failed to receive the necessary clearance in Australia until January this year – two months after he tested positive for the drug.