Paul Pogba, a midfielder for Juventus, has been given a temporary ban from the pitch after a drug test revealed high levels of testosterone in his body.
After Juve’s 3-0 victory over Udinese on August 20, Pogba was reportedly tested, according to Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado).
An unused substitute from France, age 30, was chosen at random for a post-game drug test.
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If proven guilty of doping, he could receive a two- to four-year suspension.
In a statement, Juventus said: “Juventus Football Club announces that the National Anti-Doping Tribunal today, September 11, 2023, issued a precautionary suspension order to football player Paul Labile Pogba in response to the findings of tests conducted on August 20, 2023.
“The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”
Rafaela Pimenta, Pogba’s agent, stated that she “cannot have an opinion before the results” and was “awaiting the second sample.”
“What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule,” Pimenta continued.
Nado said Pogba had violated anti-doping rules when it found the prohibited substance “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites” and the results were “consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds”.
A hormone called testosterone helps athletes run longer distances. Nado has three days to respond to Pogba’s analysis of the outcome.
After Pogba’s contract at Manchester United expired in July 2022 and he became a free agent, Juventus re-signed him on a four-year contract.
Pogba’s return to Turin has been hampered, meanwhile, by ongoing injury issues that also caused him to miss the World Cup in Qatar last year.
This season, Pogba has appeared in games for Bologna and Empoli as a substitute and played a total of 51 minutes.
He played a total of 162 minutes last season without scoring, including 108 minutes spread across six Serie A games, three brief outings and one assist in the Europa League, and 11 minutes in the Coppa Italia.
Recently, Pogba’s injury issues reappeared. According to Juventus manager Massimo Allegri, the star developed a small back issue after playing against Empoli.