FRANKFURT — Eintracht Frankfurt captain Marco Russ has been diagnosed with tumour after a doping test showed abnormal levels of the human growth hormone.
The club did not say what kind of tumour was involved, but club chairman Heribert Bruchhagen said the defender took it "very calmly" and wanted to play in Thursday’s relegation playoff at home against Nuremberg.
Russ was tested after a Bundesliga match in Darmstadt on April 30. The national anti-doping agency told Eintracht on Wednesday and recommended urgent medical tests, which revealed the illness.
Meanwhile, the Frankfurt prosecutors searched the player’s apartment and hotel room where the team was staying before the match. Authorities said they were not aware of the tumour diagnosis and acted in accordance with anti-doping laws.
