Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended for an doping offence, according to Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal.
The test, performed after Juve’s victory at Udinese on August 20, detected elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone that increases athletes’ endurance.
Nado Italia, the anti-doping agency, said that Pogba was suspended provisionally with immediate effect. Pending a trial and testing of a backup “B” sample, he risks a suspension of up to four years.
Juventus released a statement acknowledging the failed test and said they were considering their next steps.
The news is another negative note for a player who has been bothered by injuries ever since rejoining Juventus from Manchester United a little more than a year ago.
He was ruled out of France’s run to the World Cup final last year due to a knee injury and played in only six Serie A matches for Juventus last season.
Pogba has yet to start a game this season but has made two substitute appearances, last playing in the 2-0 win at Empoli.
There’s also been a police investigation ongoing in France into allegations that Pogba was targeted by extortionists – including by his older brother, Mathias, who has denied any wrongdoing.
It’s also another blow to Juventus following a season marred by inquiries into false accounting and irregular reporting of salary payments. The legal cases resulted in the Turin club being removed by UEFA from European competition this season.
Earlier on Monday, Pogba said he was almost driven to walk away from football after allegedly being blackmailed by an organised crime gang.
The 30-year-old midfielder’s brother Mathias was detained in September 2022 on suspicion of involvement in the alleged plot, which Paul claimed amounted to a bid to extort £11.1m from him.
Mathias was released in December and denies the charges.
Paul Pogba reported the incident to Turin prosecutors in July of last year, shortly after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer in order to rejoin Juventus.