Vasco de Gama striker Romario was acquitted of doping Thursday by Brazil's Superior Tribunal of Sports Justice.
Romario was suspended Dec. 21 for 120 days for failing a drug test following a Brazilian league match.
Romario claims a positive drug test resulted from his using a hair tonic.
(Steffen Schmidt/Associated Press)
Brazil's sports tribunal voted 3-2 to suspend the 42-year-old player-coach — a verdict overturned Thursday on appeal.
Romario recently stepped down as coach, and, though his contact expires at the end of March, he can resume playing, effective immediately.
Romario tested positive Oct. 28 for the banned substance finasteride, which is a masking agent for anabolic steroids.
But the Brazilian striker argued that he had been using an anti-balding medication with the active ingredient Propecia, which is a similar — and also banned — masking agent.
The test was conducted following a 2-2 draw between Vasco and Palmeiras.
"He said he didn't know about the substance, and that it didn't have the effect of doping," Vasco spokesman Roberto Garofalo said. "It doesn't make you faster, it doesn't improve your performance — it is neutral."
Romario, selected FIFA player of the year in 1994, was honoured Dec. 3 by the Brazilian Soccer Confederation for reaching the 1,000-goal mark as a pro.
He scored the milestone marker on a penalty kick versus Sport Recife on May 20.
Romario has 71 goals in 85 international appearances for Brazil, winning the World Cup in 1994.
With files from the Associated Press
