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Mario Vušković from HSV
Photo: Michael Schwartz / dpa
After a positive doping test, the German Football Association initiated proceedings against HSV professional Mario Vušković.
As the DFB announced, the substance erythropoietin, also known under the short form Epo, was found in the Hamburger during a training control.
According to the DFB, the National Anti-Doping Agency Nada carried out the control.
The DFB control committee initiated proceedings against Vušković and asked the 20-year-old Croatian to comment.
He also has the right to open the B sample.
A decision will then be made on how to proceed.
In addition, a temporary ban will be imposed, which the association's sports court will decide on promptly at the beginning of the new week.
Vušković did not play in the 4-2 win over SV Sandhausen.
Vušković is a regular at HSV
The HSV confirmed the investigations, "of which we were recently surprised," as the second division announced.
The second in the table took his central defender out of training and games for the time being.
So far, only a few details of the status of the investigation are known, so it is not possible to comment in more detail.
According to the DFB's legal code of procedure, which regulates doping offenses, among other things, the player could face a ban of several years.
"What we can say: We support Mario Vušković and the responsible authorities in the investigation and are in close contact with the DFL and the DFB at the same time," said HSV.
Erythropoietin stimulates the body to produce more red blood cells and thus more hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin binds oxygen so that muscles and organs are better supplied with it.
Athletes should stimulate the better oxygen supply to high performance.
The substance is particularly well-known from cycling.
Vušković has been playing at HSV since 2021 and was signed after a loan this summer for a fee of three million euros.
He is an undisputed regular defensive player for Hamburg and has made 18 competitive appearances for HSV this season.
jan/dpa
