Paul Pogba: French midfielder fails drugs test and is provisionally suspended
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after failing a drug test following Juventus’ win at Udinese.
30-year-old Frenchman Paul Pogba was an unused substitute and was chosen for a test where it was found that he had “elevated levels of testosterone”, a hormone which increases endurance in athletes.
Nado Italia – the anti-doping agency in Italy – said that Pogba was provisionally suspended immediately whilst awaiting the test results of a back-up “B” sample and a trial.
The former Manchester United player could face a suspension of between two to four years for the failed drug test and has three days to submit a counter-analysis to Nado.
His agent Rafaela Pimenta released a statement saying: “We are waiting for the counter-analysis and until then we can’t say anything. What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules.”
Juventus released a statement, saying: “Juventus Football Club announces that today, September 11, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the results of tests carried out on August 20, 2023.”
“The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”
Pogba has endured a torrid time since his return to Juventus on a free transfer in 2022, making only eight appearances in Serie A, totaling 159 minutes of action due to a variety of injuries.
He was ruled out of France’s 2022 World Cup squad due to a knee injury and has allegedly been blackmailed by an organised crime gang.
He was also one of the worst business deals in history for the Red Devils – who re-signed him for just over £89 million in 2016 – after Pogba left on a free transfer to The Old Lady, before he ran down his deal and left for nothing again in 2022, going back to the Italian giants.
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