Kristjansson misses suspended Portner: "I believe Niko"

Handball professional Gisli Kristjansson from Bundesliga leaders SC Magdeburg misses his temporarily suspended goalkeeper Nikola Portner. "I believe Niko and stand by his side. I know what a great person he is. Niko is a really good and cool guy. We miss him as a team. I'm really sorry that he has to go through all this shit," the Icelandic right-back told "Sport Bild".

Portner had been provisionally banned after a positive doping test. The Swiss player faces a ban of several years. Only the negative B sample could exonerate the 30-year-old. The B sample is expected to be opened at the beginning of May.

"Nikola Portner applied for the B sample to be opened on time. It was then a matter of finding a date between him, his lawyer, the National Anti-Doping Agency and the HBL," HBL spokesman Oliver Lücke told the "Handball-World" portal. It took a while to find a common date. All parties should be present when the B sample is opened.

Portner's absence has not been noticeable for the Champions League winners so far, at least from a sporting perspective. Sergey Hernandez came up trumps in the DHB Cup and led the team from the city on the Elbe to the title. The SCM has also reached the top of the league. "If Sergey continues to perform like that, that will be enough. Sergey did outstandingly well in Cologne and I just hope he continues to be that strong. In the end, it doesn't matter who's in goal. The main thing is that he makes a save," said Kristjansson.