Football Federation Australia this evening confirmed the 12 month ban for Lazaridis, 35, but said it would be backdated to the date of his positive test.

That means the suspension will finish on November 27, ruling him out for most of the new season until round 15.

However Lazaridis last played for the club on December 14 last year (pictured here hobbling from the field with an injury in that game), throwing his retrospective year-long ban into confusion.

Both FFA and Perth Glory spokesmen admitted they were unsure how that worked.

"We had no input into this process at all," said a Glory spokesman.

The midfield veteran was found to have tested positive for finasteride, a hairloss drug on the list of banned substances as a possible masking agent for other drugs.

He is understood to have previously been granted permission overseas to use the drug for therapeutic purposes but that exemption had not been renewed when he was tested in Australia.

He currently has an appeal underway for a retrospective granting of permission to use the drug after an initial plea was rejected.

The FFA said it had known of the suspension since August 6 but admitted it had waited three weeks to announce it to allow for any further appeals.

"The case illustrated the critical importance of athletes complying strictly with the regulations and procedures governing anti-doping," said FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

“The tribunal made certain express findings regarding Stan’s good character which FFA welcomes.

"In particular it 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.

"The problem related to the processes which is why it is so important for all athletes to be vigilant."

He added: “Whatever happens with the appeal relating to the retroactive TUE, we are looking forward to Stan resuming his playing duties for Perth Glory in due course.

“He has an illustrious playing record and we look forward to him continuing to make a strong contribution to the Hyundai A-League.”

Perth Glory CEO Scott Gooch said Lazaridis was a person of high integrity and his dedication to the development of Australian football over a decade of elite competition had been second to none.

“He deserves and will get the whole hearted support of everyone at Perth Glory," said Gooch.

"I’d imagine that former team mates and football fans around the world that have had the pleasure of being associated with Stan will be right behind him also.

“We will give Stan every chance to see out his decorated career on the pitch. Stan is a quality person and a player of the highest order and we are confident that he will return and have an impact for Perth Glory as we enter the business end of this season."

Mr Gooch said the club was content that the findings of the FFA Anti-Doping tribunal expressly indicate that Lazaridis’s use of Finasteride was for a legitimate therapeutic use.

He added: “The findings recognise that Stan has a legitimate medical condition and any suggestion to the contrary is completely off the mark."

Mr Gooch said today’s findings allow the club to plan for the remainder of the season with the knowledge a key player will be available for the final third of the campaign.