Reports from Italian media indicate that French midfielder Paul Pogba, who plays for Juventus, has been banned for four years following a doping offense earlier this season. According to Sky Sports Italy and La Repubblica, the sports prosecutor’s request for a four-year ban has been granted.
Pogba was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone, which is a banned substance.
The test was conducted after Juventus’ 3-0 win over Udinese in the opening match of the Serie A season on August 20. Pogba was an unused substitute in that game. The test detected testosterone, a hormone that enhances athletes’ endurance.
In October, a counter-analysis on a second sample confirmed Pogba’s positive doping test. Juventus has not issued a statement on the matter, but a source confirms that the club has been informed of the four-year ban and will be reviewing the next steps.
Despite being a member of the 2018 World Cup-winning French team, Pogba has had a difficult second stint with Juventus due to injuries since joining the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022. Last season, he barely played due to knee and hamstring injuries, as well as knee surgery, which prevented him from participating in the World Cup in Qatar.
