Not all failed drugs test are the same. Some 'positives' end up revealing an underlying condition in a player. Which is the case for Eintracht Frankfurt captain Marco Russ.
A routine drugs test found high levels of human-growth hormone HCG, flagging a a positive result. But the German anti-doping agency (NADA), seemed to think that an illness was reason for the positive test when they informed the club on Wednesday.
Russ was then screened, and has been diagnosed with a tumour the club has revealed. The location of the tumour has not been confirmed.
The tumour does not appear to be life threatening because Russ has already committed to continue playing, and help Frankfurt in their Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-off against Nurnburg after the club finished 16th.
A Frankfurt statement said that he would be available for the two-legged tie, with the first game on Thursday 19th of May:
Despite this tragic diagnosis the player has said he is ready to play. This is something that has been confirmed by the doctors.
It's possibly a very good thing for Russ that he failed that drugs test and was able to get what appears to be an early diagnosis on the tumour.
