Enlarge image
Mario Vuskovic
Photo: IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn / IMAGO/Eibner
The German Football Association (DFB) has provisionally suspended HSV professional Mario Vušković, who is suspected of doping.
As the DFB announced, the ban was imposed as part of an injunction in accordance with the association's legal and procedural rules.
It applies in the main until the decision of the DFB sports court.
The 20-year-old Hamburger SV central defender tested positive for the substance erythropoietin (Epo) during a training check on September 16.
"We have taken Mario Vušković out of training and games for the time being to protect him and the club from harm," the club announced.
His absence in the game against Sandhausen had previously been explained as "private reasons".
The Croatian is also not part of the trip to the USA that is currently taking place.
Vušković has requested the opening of the B sample and is preparing a statement.
As long as the Causa Vušković is a suspected case.
However, doping experts are not aware of the fact that Epo has been mixed into food in the past or unknowingly taken with medication to treat diseases.
The standard penalty for doping offenses is four years.
If no fault is proven, the penalty can be reduced.
For 20-year-old Vušković, who is poised for the national team but not in Croatia's World Cup squad, a long suspension could spell the end of his sporting career.
The public prosecutor's office is also investigating Vušković.
She has to, because the anti-doping law has been in place since December 2015.
If the offense is confirmed, the U21 selection player is also threatened with proceedings before a court of law.
ara/dpa