Paul Pogba Faces Four-Year Suspension Following Positive Doping Test

The nightmare continues for Paul Pogba: the counter-analysis requested by the 2018 World Champion after his positive doping test in August has confirmed the presence of testosterone, and now exposes him to a four-year suspension.

Less than a month after his provisional suspension on September 11 by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado), Pogba, 30, learned on Friday that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on Thursday, had revealed the presence of testosterone metabolites, as in the A sample.

The information, first reported by Gazzetta dello Sport and then by other Italian media, was confirmed to AFP by a source with knowledge of the case.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, the international midfielder (91 caps) is liable to a four-year suspension, which could be halved if he can prove that he did not commit the offence.

It could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance”.

To explain this positive doping test, “La Pioche’s” entourage had announced last month that the testosterone metabolytes had come from a dietary supplement prescribed by a doctor consulted in the United States.

Pogba now has seven days to submit his defence to the National Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will investigate his case and request a sanction, a procedure that could take several weeks.

In addition to the ongoing proceedings under Italian sports law, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, as doping is considered a criminal offence in Italy.

Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba has been unable to train with Juventus Turin, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons with Manchester United.

Contacted by AFP, the Piedmontese club, which has also suspended payment of his estimated salary of €8 million a year until 2026, has yet to react.

The announcement came shortly before Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, in which he simply said he was “sorry for Paul”.

Meanwhile, Pogba’s entourage, contacted by AFP, declined to comment.