Juve's Paul Pogba provisionally suspended after testing positive for ...

ROME – Juventus' French midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone, Italy's national anti-doping (Nado Italia) tribunal said on Monday.

After a nightmare season between injuries and a blackmail affair, the 30-year-old’s dreams of bouncing back were shattered by the alleged doping offence after Juventus’ 3-0 win at Udinese on Aug 20, during which he was an unused substitute.

Testosterone is a hormone that increases athletes' endurance.

“In acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Anti-doping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete Paul Labile Pogba,” Nado Italia said in a statement.

The tribunal said Pogba had violated anti-doping rules when it found the prohibited substance “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites”, adding that the results were “consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds”.

Juventus said they had been informed of the provisional suspension and were evaluating the next steps, with the player anxiously awaiting the result of his “B’ test.

If found guilty of doping, Pogba could be suspended for between two and four years. His contract with the club expires in June 2026.

His agent Rafaela Pimenta said in a statement reported by Italian media: “We are waiting for the results of the counter-analysis and cannot say anything until then.

“The only certain thing is that Paul Pogba never intended to break the rules.”

The Frenchman has had a torrid second spell with Juventus due to injuries since he returned to the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in July 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.

He has yet to start a game this season but has made two substitute appearances, last playing in the 2-0 win at Empoli.

Apart from injury troubles, Pogba said in 2022 he was the target of extortion attempts and threats from an organised gang, with his brother Mathias placed under formal investigation.

He told the Paris prosecution office that he had been the target of extortion by childhood friends since March 2022 and had paid €100,000 (S$146,200) to that group in the spring.

Mathias was taken into custody in September 2022 and released in December. The 33-year-old, who has also played professionally, denied the allegations against him.

In an interview with Al Jazeera published earlier on Monday, Pogba also said he had considered retiring from the sport having been worn down by the alleged extortion attempts and threats.

“Sometimes I was just by myself thinking, ‘I don’t want to have money anymore. I just don’t want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me – not for the fame, not for the money’,” he said. REUTERS, AFP