SC Magdeburg goalkeeper Nikola Portner has tested positive for crystal meth. Handball Bundesliga has suspended the Swiss goalkeeper for doping.
He faces a long ban. The club does not fear any immediate consequences - an replacement for the top performer is hardly feasible. If the B sample also turns out positive, Portner could face a ban of up to four years. Methamphetamines are synthetically produced substances. Medically, they can be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In competitive sports, this can be accompanied by increased alertness, which could be beneficial for Portner in his position. “For a goalkeeper, speed of reaction is important. The substance would definitely be helpful,” said doping expert Fritz Sörgel, describing a possible motive behind the rumored use of crystal meth, which is colloquially known as crystal meth in the handball world. But how do the substances get into the body? Portner: “I very much regrets the situation and will do everything in his power to demonstrate that I have not violated any anti-doping regulations”