Paul Pogba, the French midfielder, admitted to Juventus that he unknowingly took some nutritional supplements that contained testosterone, resulting in a positive drug test and a potential four-year ban.
Pogba is awaiting the results of a second test (B sample), expected by the end of the week, which will likely confirm the initial positive result.
These supplements were recommended to him by a friend who is a doctor in Miami. Importantly, these supplements are legally available in the United States but not in Italy.
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Pogba claimed it was food supplements
Pogba, who is 30 years old, acknowledged that he didn’t realize there was testosterone in his supplements. He regrets not informing his club about purchasing the product and failing to seek permission from the club’s doctors before using it.
The drug test occurred after a Juventus game against Udinese on August 20. Although Pogba didn’t play in that Serie A match, he was on the bench.
Depending on the trial and the results of the B sample, Pogba could face a suspension of up to four years.
Juventus halts Pogba’s Salary
Juventus has halted Pogba’s annual salary of €8 million ($8.6 million) and has informed him that if he is suspended, they might terminate his contract, which runs until June 2026.
In his defense, Pogba will argue that he took the supplement without knowing it contained testosterone. Additionally, he may face criminal charges, as drug doping is a criminal offense in Italy.
“We are waiting for the results of the second analysis and cannot comment further at this time,” stated Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, as reported by Italian media.
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Pogba faces two-year ban after failing drug test
In another news, Paul Pogba, a former player for Manchester United who’s now with Juventus, is facing some serious trouble after undergoing some tests.
He was tested positive for having too much testosterone in his body after a random drug test.
This test happened after a match between Juventus and Udinese, even though Pogba didn’t play in that game. Since he returned to Juventus from Manchester United, he’s had a tough time with injuries and staying in good shape.
