Viktoria Plzeň defender David Bystroň has been banned for two years by a committee of European football’s governing body, UEFA, after being found guilty of doping.
The 30-year-old defender was tested positive for banned substances following the Czech club’s Champions League group tie against Belarus team BATE Borisov in November. The follow-up test in January confirmed the findings of the first test.
Bystroň’s two year ban has been imposed by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Committee and takes effect from January 2, his club said in a news statement released on Thursday.
Viktoria Plzeň’s general manger Adolf Šádek said he counted on talks with both the player and his agent ahead of next Thursday's Europa League tie against German club Schalke 04. Šádek said that, according to the club’s information, Bystroň would not appeal the UEFA committee verdict.
Plzeň won the crunch Champions League group game 1:0, allowing them to leapfrog Borisov and later secure third place in the group and a Europa League spot. The UEFA punishment targets the player alone and not the club.
Bystroň, however, has been one of the mainstays of the Plzeň defense. Before joining the west Bohemian side, he played for Bulgarian club Levskie Sofie after transferring from Czech club Baník Ostrava.
