By Sebastian Stiekel, dpa
Frankfurt (dpa) – Eintracht Frankfurt Marco Russ is to undergo surgery next week after being diagnosed with a tumour following a failed doping test.
Despite the diagnosis, Russ played Thursday evening against Nuremberg in the first leg of the Bundesliga play-off for relegation and promotion.
Russ was given a warm reception from a crowd of 51,500 in Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Arena before kick-off, but in a 1-1 draw unluckily turned the ball into his own net shortly before half-time and was later also booked – earning a suspension for the return leg on Monday.
Frankfurt said on its website the tumour was discovered after a positive doping test showed large levels of the growth hormone HCG.
Further urological tests revealed «a severe tumour disease» which was later confirmed by a blood analysis and an ultrasound image. Surgery will be carried out on Tuesday.
Frankfurt club chairman Heribert Bruchhagen said doctors had given Russ the all-clear to play.
«The doctors are sure that he needs surgery shortly but that physical stress will not negatively impact on his condition,» he said.
The positive doping test led to a row between the club and prosecuting authorities, who carried out searches at the player’s home, his locker at the club and the team’s hotel for the Nuremberg match.
Bruchhagen disputed prosecutors’ explanation that the searches were made as part of normal procedures after being notified of the positive drugs test, but before they were aware of the player’s medical condition.
Eintracht president Peter Fischer described the searches as «a scandal» and said the club would consider legal action against the prosecuting authorities.
Russ, a 30-year-old defender, came through the Frankfurt youth ranks and made his first-team debut in 2004. But for a two-year spell at Wolfsburg between 2011 and 2013 he has spent all of his playing career at Frankfurt.
Frankfurt finished third last in the Bundesliga and play the second division’s third-placed finishers Nuremberg on Monday in the second leg of the play-off.
