The Italian anti-doping agency announced that Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba tested positive for testosterone, to a test that took place after the Juventus match at Udinese on August 20. Pogba did not play in the Serie A match, but was on the Juve bench.
Pogba was provisionally suspended with immediate effect according to Nado Italia, the anti-doping agency. The court issued a statement to the press in which it announced the precautionary suspension of the Frenchman for the alleged violation of codes 2.1 and 2.1 of the “Sports Anti-Doping Rules” that sanction the use and even attempted consumption of prohibited substances.
Juventus published a statement. “Juventus announces that today the footballer Paul Labile Pogba has received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Court following the adverse result of the tests carried out on August 20, 2023. The Company reserves the right to evaluate the next procedural steps.”
The Frenchman will be tried by the Italian national anti-doping court, unless he decides to accept his guilt. The possible sanction for the positive result means being off the playing field for two to four years, so at 30, Pogba’s career would be seriously affected.
In the latest cases of positive doping results in Serie A, the defensive line has been to argue that the sample was contaminated or that the player was taking a product for therapeutic purposes. With the second argument, José Luis Palomino (Atalanta defender) was acquitted by the Italian National Anti-Doping Court.
The player’s defense maintained that he used a healing ointment that contained Clostebol. He was acquitted, but the appeal from the Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office is still pending.. The case is being presented to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). As for Joao Pedro (Cagliari forward), he was initially suspended for 4 years, which increased to 4 months in 2018 when considering the argument that he used a diuretic and the sample was contaminated in Brazil. He tested positive in 2 controls.
Keep reading:
Testosterone in sports: What is it and why is its consumption prohibited?
Paul Pogba provisionally suspended while investigations into alleged doping take place
Unusual: Paul Pogba returned to the starting lineup 391 days later and was injured in the 21st minute of the Juventus match
