Jose Theodore, the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, has tested positive for Propecia, a banned substance.

Theodore has been taking Propecia, a medication used to grow hair, for eight to nine years, said Dr. David Mulder, the doctor for the hockey team.

Mulder knew previously about Theodore's use of the drug and has even periodically renewed his prescription.

Propecia has a "masking effect" which can cover up the presence of steroids in the body, according to Mulder.

"I think you should all understand that the masking effect produced by this drug is very weak," Mulder said. "The drug (Propecia) on its own has no performance enhancing abilities. It simply grows hair. It has no other effects."

However, Propecia can mask nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.

These steroids are made from testosterone and are banned from many sports because they're considered dangerous to one's health.

Athletes may take anabolic steroids because they reduce the fatigue from training and the time needed to recover after a physical activity. The steroids also help people build muscles.

Nandrolone is used for muscle building, mainly by weight lifters and wrestlers.

Mulder said it's obvious Theodore is not taking nandrolone.

"It produces massive bulk," he said. "He's a thin, young man."

Mulder announced the results of the Dec.12, 2005 drug test Thursday night after the Canadian Press broke the story. "The reason for this is that shadows or doubts related to something like this place a shadow over the entire Canadian Olympic Hockey Team," Mulder said.

Theodore had the random drug test during the tryouts for the Canadian Olympic hockey team. He plans on appealing its results.

Theodore was originally named as a potential member of Canada's 2006 Olympic Hockey Team, but was not picked to go to Turin.

Propecia was banned two years ago by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The drug is not banned by the NHL.

The Canadiens' don't usually disclose names when someone fails a drug test, according to Mulder.

"We thought it would be better to explain the situation as it currently stands," he said.

Theodore, goaltender for the Habs since he was drafted into the NHL in 1994, is a longtime fan favourite.

He's been having a bad season, though, and last week TSN's hockey commentator Bob McKenzie wrote that "he is shattered man right now. He always carried himself with supreme confidence bordering on cockiness, and those who know him say it's gone."

In late 2004 Theodore's father and half-brother pleaded guilty to charges of loansharking and possession of a restricted weapon. In February of 2005, Ted Theodore, 71, was given a $30,000 fine, but no jail time.

With files from CTV's Jed Kahane