Paul Pogba risks a long-term ban after testing positive for testosterone again following analysis of his B sample, according to football insider Fabrizio Romano.
The Juventus midfielder, who initially returned a positive result after being tested following a match at Udinese on Aug. 20, could be barred from the sport for up to four years, Agence France-Presse reports.
However, that ban could be limited to just a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance,” Agence France-Presse adds. Pogba’s representatives said in September that the initial positive test was due to a food supplement a doctor prescribed the player in the United States.
Juventus now have to decide on how to handle the 30-year-old’s contract.
Pogba, who was influential during France’s victorious 2018 World Cup run, has endured a torrid return to Juventus since coming back to the club from Manchester United in summer 2022. In addition to the failed doping tests that threaten to derail his career, a succession of injuries have greatly restricted his playing time. Including the latter part of his previous spell with Manchester United, Pogba has started one match over the past 17-and-a-half months.
He’s also involved in a police investigation into allegations that he was targeted by extortionists – including his brother, Mathias, who’s had a nomadic career representing clubs in various countries, including Slovenia and Scotland.
