Former Brazil striker Romario, 41, said on Tuesday that he had failed a doping test after a Brazilian championship match and blamed a medicine he was using for hair loss.

The Vasco da Gama striker, who has played sporadically this year, said he had tested positive for finasteride following the match against Palmeiras on October 28.

"I'm losing some hair and I have been taking this product for a while," he told a news conference.

Earlier this year, Romario scored what he claimed to be the 1,000th goal of his career, although he admitted the total includes more than 200 goals scored in youth team, reserve, friendly and testimonial games.

On Monday, he was given a special award for the achievement at a ceremony to mark the end of the Brazilian championship.