Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal after testing positive for testosterone, as per reports.
Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal has confirmed that Paul Pogba has tested positive in a random drug test performed during Juventus’ league game against Udinese on August 20.
A statement from the anti-doping body read: “The National Antidoping Tribunal informs that, in acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Antidoping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete: Paul Labile Pogba (FIGC) for the violation of articles 2.1, 2.2; prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites (The GC/c/IRMS results are consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds).”
Juventus won that match 3-0 but the midfielder was an unused substitute during that game. The Old Lady though have been quick to come up with a statement of their own in which they have said that they are considering the next steps.
A statement from the Serie A side read: “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.”
What will happen to Paul Pogba now?
This is just the first phase in a long procedure and the next logical step for the midfielder will be to request for a reexamination of the samples to make sure there has been no mistake in the tests.
If the second reports come back positive as well then Paul Pogba could be looking at a ban of two to four years. However, the main issue for the France international is that until these procedures are completed he will remain provisionally suspended.
The authorities will also track Pogba’s medical history to see if the doctors had previously advised him testosterone as part of a treatment. Paul Pogba has been really unlucky with injuries because since returning to Juventus from Manchester United in the summer of 2022, the World Cup winner has played in only 12 matches for the Italian club.
He’s missed 54 games so far due to seven different injuries and there’s an outside chance that he could have taken the testosterone for one of these rehabs.
Overall, it is an initial setback for Paul Pogba but there’s a long way to go before the final verdict and punishment is handed out(if any).
