Update
CAS even extends until 2026
HSV defender Vuskovic loses fight against doping ban
27.08.2024, 16:25
Hamburger SV hopes for an acquittal for player Mario Vuskovic. But the opposite is happening: the International Criminal Court (CAS) even extends the doping sentence against the 22-year-old.
Shock for Mario Vuskovic and Hamburger SV: In the appeal process in the doping case involving the Croatian, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) not only confirmed the ban against the 22-year-old. The highest sports judges also upheld the appeal of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and even increased the sentence to four years, as NADA announced.
The provisional suspension, which has been in effect since November 15, 2022, will be taken into account by the court. Vuskovic will therefore remain suspended until autumn 2026. Vuskovic and his lawyers will now examine the verdict, HSV said in an initial reaction: “The player and the club ask for your understanding that this will take some time. Afterwards, HSV and Vuskovic will enter into internal discussions, assess the new situation and then discuss how to proceed.”
In 2023, Vuskovic was found guilty of taking the blood doping agent EPO by the sports court of the German Football Association and was given a two-year ban retroactively from November 15, 2022. The Croatian denies the doping allegation and has lodged an appeal. NADA and WADA also appealed against the verdict and demanded a four-year ban, which is actually usual in such cases. The CAS judges have now followed suit.
Tears while protesting innocence
In May, Vuskovic again protested his innocence at the CAS hearing in Lausanne. He tearfully denied the accusations. However, Vuskovic was unable to explain how the positive doping test had come about. The player had not presented “any mitigating circumstances” “that could be taken into account to shorten the four-year ban,” the CAS said.
During the trial, the anti-doping agencies Nada and Wada stuck to their position that Vuskovic was guilty of doping with the blood doping agent EPO. They therefore even demanded a longer ban – and were successful.
HSV had repeatedly supported the defender with solidarity actions. On the last match day of last season, the HSV professionals warmed up in warm-up shirts with the inscription “Team Mario”.
Criticism of analysis method
The Vuskovic case had developed into a fundamental dispute over EPO analysis. The Vuskovic side cited alleged procedural errors behind the positive samples. The SAR-PAGE method used on him and carried out by WADA has been repeatedly criticized by experts.
For Vuskovic, who came from Hajduk Split in 2021, the verdict is a personal catastrophe. For HSV, the ban represents a setback in its personnel planning, as coach Steffen Baumgart had actually planned to sign the defender. Now those in charge, including managing director Stefan Kuntz, only have until Friday evening to find a replacement for Vuskovic. That is when the transfer period ends.
The HSV pros heard the bad news on Tuesday after training. Managing director Stefan Kuntz informed the players, who then went to the dressing room visibly shocked.