Stan Lazaridis faces hairy wait over drugs ban

Former West Ham and Birmingham winger Stan Lazaridis has tested positive for a banned substance used to combat baldness. The 34-year-old - now playing in his native Australia with Perth Glory - is reported to have tested positive for the drug finasteride.

Although most commonly associated with hair loss treament and in no way performance-enhancing, the drug is banned because it can be used as a masking agent. Lazaridis received a therapeutic use exemption to take the drug in January this year, but the failed test was taken in November 2006. The former Socceroo now faces a nervous wait to see if he will recede receive a two-year ban. [Rob Parker]