The DFB have announced that Mario Vuskovic will be suspended for two years for violating the anti-doping guidelines.
On the ruling, the chairman of the DFB Sports Court Stephan Oberholz said: “In the result of the proceedings, the DFB Sports Court is convinced with sufficient certainty that the analyses of the A and B sample of the player urine in the laboratory in Kreischa have revealed the presence of foreign erythropoietin, EPO for short. This is a prohibited so-called ‘non-specific substance’, which is a criminal violation of the DFB’s anti-doping regulations.”
The ban began on the 15th of November 2022 and will end on the 14th November 2024, which is due to Vuskovic being originally suspended back in November. Hamburg and Vuskovic have one week to appeal the decision.
Hamburg’s stance was made clear by board member Jonas Boldt: “We have taken note of the decision of the DFB Sports Court and immediately reached the agreement after an exchange with Mario’s lawyers that the judgment will be appealed. We will now deal with the reasoning of the judgment in peace.”
Vuskovic joined Hamburg last summer from Hadjuk Split in Croatia for €3m signing a contract until 2025. The 21-year-old had played 16 times for Hamburg scoring twice and assisting once as well. What this means for Vuskovic’s future is unknown at the moment as it will depend on the outcome of the appeal.
Hamburg are currently third in the 2.Bundesliga three points behind leaders Darmstadt and one point behind second placed Heidenheim. They next face Fortuna Düsseldorf as they try and win promotion for teh fifth time of asking.
GGFN | Jack Meenan