Frankfurt - German football authorities have launched an investigation against two Hoffenheim players for alleged violation of doping regulations.

The German football federation DFB said Saturday its control panel was investigating Andreas Ibertsberger and Christoph Janker.

The investigation is "in connection with their behaviour at an unannounced doping control" after the Bundesliga match on February 7 at Borussia Moenchengladbach, a statement said.

The DFB said the players failed to appear directly after the game at the doping control room after their names had been drawn for doping tests.

Instead the players appeared 10 minutes later after attending a team meeting, the statement said.

The DFB's control panel will now decide on whether the players should answer charges at a sports court.

Both Ibertsberger, a 26-year-old Austrian international, and fellow defender Jancker, 24, recorded negative doping tests in the controls carried out after the match which ended 1-1.

DFB vice president and legal affairs expert Rainer Koch said the case appeared in the first instance to be similar to proceedings against Italian players Daniele Mannini and Davide Possanzini.

The case which went before the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) and led on January 29 to a one-year suspension for both players.

"Whether this ruling would also be applicable to the case of the two Hoffenheim players is something which will have to be closely examined by the DFB control panel," he said. (dpa)