Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended for an anti-doping violation, with elevated testosterone levels detected after a match.
Italy’s anti-doping tribunal provisionally suspended Pogba after a test following Juve’s win at Udinese on August 20. The test revealed heightened levels of testosterone, a performance-enhancing hormone.
Nado Italia, the anti-doping agency, imposed immediate suspension. Pending a trial and testing of a backup sample, Pogba could be banned for up to four years.
Juventus acknowledged the failed test and is considering its next steps.
“Juventus Football Club announces that Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order. The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps,” Juventus said in a statement.
His agent has however issued a statement in response to the precarious situation insisting that the 30-year-old “never wanted to break the rules.”
“We are waiting for the counter-analysis and until then we can’t say anything. The certain thing is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules,” Rafaela Pimenta said.
This development adds to Pogba’s recent struggles since rejoining Juventus from Manchester United over a year ago.
Injuries have plagued him, causing him to miss France’s World Cup final last year and limiting his Serie A appearances last season.
Although Pogba hasn’t started this season, he made two substitute appearances, the last one in a 2-0 win against Empoli.
Additionally, a police investigation is ongoing in France, probing allegations of extortion targeting Pogba, including by his older brother, Mathias, who denies any wrongdoing.
For Juventus, this incident compounds a troubled season marked by inquiries into false accounting and salary payment irregularities, resulting in their exclusion from European competition this year.
Pogba, a France international, has been given three days to respond to the developments which now raise questions about his future with the Italian giants.
