Polish national team player and Bogdanka LUK Lublin's Mikołaj Sawicki has been temporarily suspended from the national team after a positive doping test, a fact learned by coach Nikola Grbić shortly before the match against Bulgaria in the Silesia Cup tournament.
Sawicki was not in Poland's squad for the matches against Bulgaria and Germany, with his absence initially explained by a virus. On Saturday, however,Strefa Siatkówkirevealed that it was a matter of apositive A sampleand Grbić himself confirmed the information after the tournament.
🎙️ "I found out about it before Friday's match. Procedures are currently underway, and we are following them. We are trying to do everything possible to get a clear picture of the situation. Sample A is positive, but we've had a similar situation in the team before, and ultimately nothing happened. I wouldn't want this case to be exaggerated because it brings nothing good to him, his club, the team, or Polish volleyball," Grbić said.
After the match against Bulgaria, the Serbian coach was asked about Sawicki's absence, to which he replied that the player was "sick." He later revealed why he gave that information:
"What was I supposed to say? To say he's unavailable even though he trained a day earlier and suddenly he's gone? For me, it's incredible that the information spread so quickly. Returning to the question, we are waiting for the official results and hope that they will come quickly, it will turn out he is clean, and he will be able to return to the team."
According to Grbić, Sawicki is devastated by what happened, and the coach spoke with him personally:
"He is devastated by the whole situation."
🧪 According to information fromStrefa Siatkówkiif Sample B is confirmed, Sawickicould face a ban of up to 4 years from competing. He is currently temporarily suspended pending the completion of the investigation.
🏐 Sawicki, who played for Bogdanka LUK Lublin last season, where Bulgarian national player Alex Grozdanov also competes, was among the important names in Poland's squad. The scandal erupts at a crucial moment - just weeks before the start of the Nations League.
🔴 The problem with Sawicki seriously disrupted Nikola Grbić's plans for the Nations League.
Mikołaj Sawicki's positive doping test, a teammate of Alex Grozdanov at Bogdanka LUK Lublin, limited the selection of Poland's coach to only three outside hitters for the first Nations League tournament in China.
"We only had four, so we will travel with three. It won't be easy, but others do it too," commented Nikola Grbić, who no longer has the right to replace Sawicki in the squad.
Savitsky has been provisionally suspended, suspected of using a prohibited substance. The player can request an analysis of the B-sample within 7 days.
Grbic will announce the final squad for the VNL in the coming days, but there will be no new outside hitter called up, and the recovering Bartek Bednorz is not ready for full play.
