Latest news with #MarioVuskovic
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vušković brothers united at HSV? Tottenham centre-back "would love to play in Hamburg!"
It has been one of the most discussed topics at Hamburg's biggest club in recent years: the doping suspension of Croatian centre-back Mario Vušković. His doping suspension was investigated and the final decision stands: the player won't be able to play until November 2026. These news were a huge blow for the HSV chefs and squad, since Mario Vušković was an important player for them. Advertisement Now, the 23-year-old pushes his highly rated younger brother Luka in the spotlight of the German media by saying the following to the 'Hamburger Abendblatt': 'Luka loves HSV simply because the club and the fans are always behind me. When he experienced the promotion party in the Volksparkstadion, he was impressed by how big the club is and how incredible the fans are.' 'He would love to play for HSV and wouldn't say 'no' to an offer. In the end, however, Tottenham will decide what is best for his development.' The 18-year-old Luka joins the north Londoners this summer after signing for €11 million from Hajduk Split in 2023. The central defender spent last season on loan at Belgian club KVC Westerlo, where he established himself as an absolute regular. Advertisement On June 9th, the youngster made his debut for the Croatian national team against the Czech Republic (5:1). If Spurs consider a loan deal to be sensible, the 1.93-meter tall right-footer could possibly soon further develop at the Bundesliga promotion side.
New York Times
11-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Croatian footballer Mario Vuskovic loses final appeal against four-year doping ban
Hamburg defender Mario Vuskovic has lost his final appeal against a four-year doping ban. Vuskovic, 23, tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in September 2022 and was initially banned by the German Football Association (DFB) for two years. The ruling was appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by Vuskovic, seeking to prove his innocence by demonstrating errors he claimed were made during the testing procedure, but also by WADA and NADA — the global and Germany's national anti-doping agency — in pursuit of the standard four-year ban that EPO use carries across other sport. Advertisement CAS ruled in their favour, extending Vuskovic's ban by a further two years, preventing him from returning to football until November 2026. Vuskovic's latest appeal, which likely represented his final legal avenue, was made to the Swiss Federal Court. A spokesperson for the court confirmed the rejection of the appeal to The Athletic. The chances of success were considered slim, as the appeal only considered whether procedural errors had been made during CAS's examination of the previous appeal, not the case itself. Theoretically, Vuskovic could now take his case to the European Court of Human Rights but that is considered unlikely. It leaves the player, who was capped up to under-21 level for Croatia and linked with a move to the Premier League before his ban, in stasis. Vuskovic is the first football player in the sport's history to be banned for EPO usage and a return to a top division after such a long absence would be unprecedented. Hamburg have been supportive and several club officials remain convinced of his innocence. In addition, his team-mates have consistently displayed his name and number on the back of a replica shirt after games — many of which he has been in attendance for. A popular football sticker around Hamburg also shows his name and shirt number, and the demand to 'Free Vuskovic'. None of which, though, has had any legal effect. And what happens next is uncertain. Vuskovic is allowed to resume team training in September 2026, with a theoretical return to first-team action two months later. When CAS issued its judgement in August 2024, extending the ban by a further two years, Vuskovic and Hamburg agreed to the termination of his then-contract. It was replaced by a future agreement, that would begin once his ban expires. In the meantime, Vuskovic must train by himself. There is a possibility of an off-field role with the club over the next 18 months, but Hamburg are yet to comment publicly on that. (Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images)
