Paul Pogba’s positive doping test confirmed by second opinion – Libération

2023-10-06 15:44:48

Provisionally suspended, the French footballer had requested a second opinion which also turned out to be positive for testosterone.

Less than a month after his provisional suspension by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado), Paul Pogba remains mired. The second opinion requested by the French midfielder from Juventus Turin confirmed the presence of testosterone in the samples taken in August, a source with knowledge of the file said this Friday, October 6, confirming information from the Italian press.

Pogba, 30, learned this Friday that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on Thursday, had revealed the presence of testosterone metabolites, as in sample A. The footballer had been checked on August 20 at the from the match between Udine and Juventus, counting for the first day of the Italian Championship, during which he did not come into play.

Up to four years suspension

Suspended since September 11, the French international is liable, according to the World Anti-Doping Code, to being banned from playing for four years, a sentence which can however be reduced by half if he manages to demonstrate non-intentionality. His suspension could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “outside competition and is not linked to his level of performance”.

To explain this positive anti-doping test, those close to “La Pioche” announced last month that the testosterone metabolites came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States. Testosterone, the hormone of fertility and male sexuality, promotes muscle development.

Paul Pogba is having a nightmarish 2022-2023 season on and off the pitch. He can no longer train with Juventus Turin, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons at Manchester United. The Piedmontese club also froze the payment of his salary. He also 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, the Frenchman, whose last match dated back to May 14, made his return to competition during his team’s draw at home against Bologna (1-1) in the Italian championship.

Contacted by AFP, the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) was unable to confirm this information “by decision of the Italian authority relating to respect for private life”. The player’s entourage, also contacted, did not want to comment.