Juventus Midfielder Paul Pogba Suspended for Four Years for Doping
Written by moradio on 29 February 2024
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 29- Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has received a four-year football ban due to a doping violation.
This comes after he was temporarily suspended in September following a positive drugs test indicating heightened levels of testosterone.
The test was conducted randomly after Juventus’ season opener on August 20. Pogba, aged 30, intends to contest the decision made by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado).
The doping offense was confirmed by a subsequent test in October, prompting the anti-doping prosecutor’s office to seek a four-year suspension.
Pogba’s ineligibility to play extends until 2027, with the ban retroactively applied from the date of the failed test. Pogba maintains that any potential intake of a banned substance was unintentional.
Testosterone, known for enhancing athletes’ endurance, was found in Pogba’s system in forms prohibited by regulations, indicating an external origin.
Despite his return to Juventus in 2022 after leaving Manchester United as a free agent, Pogba’s tenure has been marred by persistent injuries, leading to limited game time. He has played only 51 minutes this season and had minimal involvement in the previous one, amassing a total of 162 minutes without scoring any goals.
