NEW YORK » A former New York City counterterrorism detective who says he was unfairly fired as a result of a failed drug test he blamed on his wife's marijuana-spiked meatballs has lost a court bid to get his job back.

A state appeals court upheld Anthony Chiofalo's dismissal Thursday. The 22-year veteran was suspended in 2005 after failing a random drug test and was fired in 2007.

Catherine Chiofalo told police investigators she secretly substituted marijuana for oregano in meatballs, hoping a failed test would make her husband leave police work.

Anthony Chiofalo's lawyer, Philip Karasyk (CAH'-rah-sihk), says he's considering options for continuing the case.

Police department lawyer Edward Hart says there was more marijuana in Chiofalo's system than the meatballs could explain.