The Croatian football player Mario Vuskovic tested positive for the banned substance epo in November 2022 and was banned for two years – a punishment the 22-year-old was not satisfied with.
He chose to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) but it didn't go as he had planned. Instead of getting a shorter sentence, Cas has now decided to double the ban to four years.
Vuskovic can therefore play football again at the earliest in November 2026.
Epo is a hormone that stimulates the body to produce red blood cells, which increases oxygen uptake in the blood, improving endurance in athletes.
Vuskovic has a contract with the German club Hamburg that extends until next summer.
