Real Madrid left the Allianz Arena without Vinicius Junior after their dramatic Champions League elimination against Bayern Munich.
The Brazilian striker was forced to stay in Bavaria to fulfill mandatory obligations after the match.
Los Blancos, the 15-time European champions, endured a tough night in Germany, losing 4-3 and going out 6-4 on aggregate.
While the rest of the squad boarded the bus immediately after the match ended, Vinícius was selected for a random doping test after playing the entire match.
Because the procedure took longer than expected, the club’s logistics staff decided to have the main bus head to the airport, leaving the star striker to travel by car afterwards.
No direct statements were released regarding the delay, but FIFA’s strict rules explain why players cannot avoid these checks.
Under these rules, athletes caught using banned substances can face suspensions ranging from a few months to life bans.
In cases where the use is considered intentional to gain an advantage, penalties usually go up to a four-year suspension, while unintentional cases can result in a two-year ban from all football activities.
The regulatory framework for post-match testing includes not only the detection of prohibited substances, but also violations such as refusing to submit to testing, failing to follow the instructions of anti-doping officials, or failing to accurately declare the athlete’s whereabouts.
