3. He Failed A Doping Test
The debacle in Australia suggested Romário no longer had enthusiasm for the game and was instead more interested in earning a fat paycheque for limited work. Yet in January 2007, the veteran returned to Vasco da Gama for one last spell. The striker only featured on the pitch sporadically, until in October of the same year he failed a drug test. Hoping to pre-empt the negative media backlash, Romário got his excuses in early by personally announcing the failed sting, blaming the positive test result on the hair loss treatment Propecia. The striker admitted to using the product -which contains the banned substance finasteride - for years. Nevertheless, Brazilian football's disciplinary tribunal slapped the striker with a 120-day ban. Oddly, the player was not left idle for long, as two days later he was perhaps foolhardily handed the managerial position at Vasco. In February, the ban was annulled, as an emotional Romário broke down in tears at court. However, interference in team selection by Vasco president Eurico Miranda caused Romário to leave his managerial post. Despite his ban being lifted, Romário never played again; the player announced his retirement just three months later.
Benjamin Richardson
Editorial Team
Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know).
He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.
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