Nine-game ban for Rehmer

Hertha BSC Berlin defender Marko Rehmer has been banned for nine games by the German Footballl Assocaition (DFB) disciplinary board after being found guilty of breaking anti-doping rules.

Guilty verdict
The 32-year-old was found guilty of having taken an illegal substance in Hertha’s Bundesliga match against TSV 1860 München on 15 May. Rehmer, a former German international, had received treatment from a different doctor after picking up a jaw injury without informing the club of the team doctor and was given medicine containing illegal substances.

Hertha accept suspension
If Rehmer had informed the National Anti-Doping Agency that he was taking the substance he would have been cleared of charges, but as he failed to do so the DFB were pressed to charge and suspend him for breaching anti-doping rules, rather than doping itself. Hertha have already announced that the suspension will be accepted and that they might even seek to punish the player themselves.