Italy’s anti-doping agency has announced that former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.
The test performed after Juventus’ victory over Udinese on August 20, detected elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone that increases athletes’ endurance.
Pogba faces a maximum ban of four years for taking the banned substance. He was suspended by Juventus as a precaution and has three days to request counter-analysis of his results.
Sport Mediaset reported that while doping violations carry a maximum sentence of two years, it could be increased to four if it is proven he intentionally took the substance. If he tests positive in a second sample, Paul Pogba will face a hearing with the National Anti-Doping Tribunal in Italy, that is unless he admits to taking the substance intentionally.
Announcing his suspension, Juventus said in a statement;
“Juventus Football Club announces that today the player Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the adverse outcome of the analyses carried out on 20 August 2023. The Company reserves the right to evaluate the next procedural steps.”
Pogba has endured a miserable time on and off the pitch in the last 18 months. He left Manchester United on a free transfer at the end of the 2021/22 season after new boss Erik ten Hag decided against offering him a new contract.
He returned to Juventus, the club he joined United from for a then world-record fee of £89million in 2016. However, he had a nightmare first season back in Turin, making just 10 appearances in all competitions due to injury.
Paul Pogba was also ruled out of France’s run to the World Cup final last year due to a knee injury.
