Ger. FA Shelves Doping Probe Into Hoffenheim

The DFB said in a statement the players` own `culpability of refusing or missing a doping test cannot be proven`.

The German Soccer Federation (DFB) said on Friday it had shelved an investigation into two Hoffenheim players who were late for a doping test last month because of a lack of evidence.

Hoffenheim's Andreas Ibertsberger, an Austria international, and Christoph Janker were being investigated for anti-doping rule violations after they were 10 minutes late for a test after their 1-1 draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Feb. 7.

They both tested negative.

The DFB said in a statement the players' own "culpability of refusing or missing a doping test cannot be proven".

The pair had said in their testimony that they were only informed of their obligation to appear for a test after they had already gone to the changing room at the end of the match.

The DFB said it would file a complaint against the team's doping official though, who, according to the DFB, had been informed at halftime of who had been chosen to be tested.

The DFB said should "new, as yet unknown accusations against the players arise then the process against them will resume".

Hoffenheim have taken the league by storm in their debut season, leading the Bundesliga for weeks. They are currently third, only two points behind leaders Hertha Berlin.