Vuskovic remains banned: last hope of a doping acquittal is dashed!

Vuskovic remains banned: last hope of a doping acquittal is dashed!

Croatian central defender Mario Vuskovic from Hamburger SV has lost his last chance to have his four-year doping ban lifted. The Swiss Federal Court dismissed his appeal against the ruling of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Hamburger Abendblatt reported. A detailed justification for the decision is still pending, but is expected in the coming days. This final decision leaves Vuskovic without playing any games in professional football until November 2026.

Vuskovic tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a performance-enhancing drug, on September 16, 2022, during a doping test by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA). The result of the B sample confirmed the original test result and led to the controversial four-year ban, which the CAS confirmed at the end of August 2023. Vuskovic had previously tried to challenge the ban, but the final instance in Switzerland did not offer him any success Ran.de reported. The contract with HSV currently remains invalid, but a return from 2026 is planned.

The impact of this decision is significant for the 23-year-old player, as he is now excluded from professional gaming until his rehabilitation at the end of 2026. When he returns, he will be offered a performance-based contract tied to his sporting success. Until then, Vuskovic will have to reorient himself both sportingly and legally and theoretically still has the opportunity to go to the European Court of Human Rights, although the chances of success are considered to be low.