Hertha have suspended Salomon Kalou from first-team training and matches with an immediate effect after the former Chelsea winger posted a controversial video on Facebook.
In the clip, as the Bundesliga side's squad are undergoing their tests for COVID-19, the 34-year-old is seen fist-bumping his teammates and even interrupting defender Jordan Torunarigha's check-up.
On realising the fact that the Ivorian is filming, the doctor administering the test says: "Sala, please. Sala, delete that, please." Kalou replies that he is "only joking".
The attacker goes on to sing a "corona song" and to denounce Hertha's decision to cut their players' wages, claiming: "They took 11 per cent. Why are they f***ing with us?'"
Kalou has deleted the video and made an official apology: "I am sorry if I gave the impression that I am not taking coronavirus seriously," the 34-year-old said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
"The opposite is the case because I am especially worried about the people in Africa because the medical care there is nowhere near as good as in Germany. I didn't really think it through and was excited that my tests came back negative.
"I would also like to apologise to all those who appeared in the video who didn't know that I was broadcasting live and whom I didn't want to bring into this situation."
