Paul Pogba, player of Juventus Turin and the French football team, was provisionally suspended after being the subject of a positive doping test for testosterone – the hormone of fertility and male sexuality, which promotes muscle development. The midfielder requested a second opinion, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Thursday, September 14. The Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) notified Pogba of his positive test on Monday and he had five working days to request the opening of his B sample. According to the Italian press, the result of the second opinion should be known on September 20 .
Pogba, 30 years old (91 caps), was tested on August 20 after the match between Udine and Juventus, counting for the first day of the Italian Championship, during which he did not come into play. Following the announcement of his positive test, he was provisionally suspended by Nado. He can no longer train with Juventus Turin, the club he returned to in July 2022 after six seasons at Manchester United. The Piedmontese club also suspended the payment of his salary.
The midfielder is liable to a four-year suspension which could however be reduced by half if he manages to demonstrate non-intentionality, or even limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to their level of performance.” The testosterone metabolites, identified in his urine sample, allegedly came from the use of a dietary supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.
Pogba has had a nightmarish 2022-2023 season on and off the pitch. He collected injuries, which limited the number of matches played during this exercise to ten and deprived him of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 2018 world champion was also the victim of an extortion attempt by an organized gang in which one of his brothers, Mathias, was notably involved. On August 27, Pogba, whose last match dated back to May 14, made his return to competition during his team’s home draw against Bologna (1-1) in the Italian Championship.
