Paul Pogba banned for four years for doping, Italian media reports
Thursday February 29 2024
Italian football giants Juventus and French midfielder Paul Pogba. PHOTO | REUTERS
France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned for four years for a doping offence earlier this season, Italian media reported on Thursday.
Sky Sport Italy and La Repubblica reported the sports prosecutor's request for a four-year ban was granted.
Pogba was provisionally suspended by Italy's national anti-doping (Nado Italia) tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone - a banned substance.
The test, performed after Juve's 3-0 Serie A season-opening victory at Udinese on August 20, detected testosterone, a hormone that increases athletes' endurance. The 30-year-old was an unused substitute in that game.
Read: Troubled Pogba sinks to new low after doping revelation
Pogba's positive doping test was also confirmed in a counter-analysis on a second sample in October.
Juventus did not comment but a source confirmed that the club had been notified about the decision of a four-year ban and would assess the next steps.
Reuters has contacted Pogba's representatives for comment.
The Frenchman has had a torrid second spell with Juve due to injuries since he returned to the Turin-based outfit following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022.
The 2018 World Cup winner barely played last season due to knee and hamstring injuries as well as knee surgery, which prevented him playing for France at the World Cup in Qatar.