Paul Pogba suspended by Juventus after a positive testosterone doping control – Liberation

2023-09-11 20:24:31

The French international from Juventus Turin was provisionally suspended after having tested positive following a match on August 20, the Italian Anti-Doping Agency said on Monday, September 11.

The pickaxe in the hard. French midfielder Paul Pogba, who experienced a nightmarish 2022-23 season marred by injuries, tested positive for a doping product following the match between Udine and Juventus Turin which took place on August 20, announces the Italian press this Monday, September 11. A match in which the French player did not come into play.

However, during the doping control carried out after the match, traces of testosterone were found in the player’s analyzes. The presence of testosterone (and some of its metabolites) was thus confirmed by several batteries of analyzes carried out by the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (Nado), which is considered one of the most important anti-doping centers in the world in the field of steroid detection.

Thus, “the National Anti-Doping Tribunal informs that in accordance with the recommendation of the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor, it has pronounced the provisional suspension of Paul Labile Pogba,” said Nado in a press release. The sanction was pronounced for “violation of articles 2.1 and 2.2 for the presence of the following prohibited substances: testosterone metabolites”, she added

Punishable by a four-year suspension

According to the Italian press, if the second opinion of his B sample confirms the presence of testosterone metabolites, he is liable to a four-year suspension. Paul Pogba faces a four-year ban. The French midfielder had recently declared that he felt ready to find his place to prove his worth as best as possible, ensuring that he had the “rage” and the “desire to play” this season, believing that his extra-sporting problems had made “stronger”.

After the match against Udine, Paul Pogba took part in the matches against Bologna and Empoli, spending a total of 52 minutes on the pitch. During the last summer transfer window, the new management of the Bianconeri kept the player on the transfer market, the player’s heavy salary weighing on the club’s budget.

This case may recall one of the many other doping cases at Juventus. On March 4, 2001, Dutch star player Edgar Davids also tested positive for testosterone after a Juventus league match against Udinese. Initially suspended for 16 months, the player finally got away with a 4-month sanction. He was even allowed to play friendly matches during his period of disqualification.