Dhe soccer professional Mario Vuskovic from Hamburger SV, who is suspected of doping, has been temporarily banned. As the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Tuesday, the suspension against the player from the second division club was pronounced as part of a temporary injunction. It applies in the main until the decision of the DFB sports court.
Exogenous erythropoietin (Epo) was detected in a doping sample taken on September 16, 2022 by the player, who turns 21 on Wednesday. According to DFB information, this is a prohibited so-called “non-specific substance”, which, if detected, is subject to a temporary ban according to the legal and procedural rules.
The central defender has been taken out of training by his club for the time being. The Croatian is also not part of the trip to the USA that is currently taking place. The opening of the B sample has been requested. Until the result, the Causa Vuskovic is a suspected case. The player maintains his innocence.
The standard penalty for doping offenses is four years. If no fault is proven, the penalty can be reduced. For Vuskovic, who was on the verge of joining the national team after strong performances as a regular with the Hanseatic League, a long ban could mean the end of his sporting career.
A point deduction does not threaten the second in the table from Hamburg: According to the DFB regulations, penalties should only be imposed on a club “if the club can be proven to be at fault or more than two players in the team have violated the anti-doping regulations “.
