(Rome) The nightmare continues for Paul Pogba: the second opinion requested by the 2018 world champion after his positive doping test in August confirmed the presence of testosterone, and now exposes him to a four-year suspension.
Less than a month after his provisional suspension on September 11 by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado), Pogba, 30, learned on Friday that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on Thursday, had revealed the presence testosterone metabolites, as in sample A.
The information, initially given by Gazzetta dello Sport, then other Italian media, was confirmed to AFP by a source with knowledge of the matter.
The international midfielder (91 caps) is liable under the World Anti-Doping Code to a four-year suspension which could, however, be reduced by half if he manages to demonstrate non-intentionality.
It could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “outside competition and is not linked to their level of performance”.
To explain this positive doping control, those close to “La Pioche” announced last month that these testosterone metabolites came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor consulted in the United States.
Testosterone, the hormone of fertility and male sexuality, promotes muscle development.
Pogba now has seven days to communicate his defense to the National Anti-Doping Tribunal which will examine his case and request a sanction, a procedure which could take several weeks.
In addition to the ongoing procedure of the Italian sports justice system, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, doping being considered an offense in Italy.
Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba can no longer train with Juventus Turin, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons at Manchester United.
Contacted by AFP, the Piedmontese club, which has also suspended the payment of its salary estimated at 8 million euros per year until 2026, has not yet reacted.
The announcement came shortly before the press conference, on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, from Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri who simply said “sorry for Paul”.
Pogba’s entourage, contacted by AFP, for their part did not wish to react.
This doping affair is the final repercussion of a nightmarish year and a half for Pogba, on and off the field.
On the pitch, he only made ten appearances last season in the Juve jersey, due in particular to an injury to the meniscus in his right knee, which he ended up having surgery on in September. Too late to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
But it was far from the field that the player of Guinean origin experienced the worst.
He was kidnapped in March 2022 for three hours by three childhood friends and two old acquaintances from the neighborhood where the Pogba grew up in Roissy-en-Brie, near Paris, to extract 13 million euros from him by involving two hooded men armed with rifles.
In this case of attempted extortion by an organized gang, one of his brothers is notably involved, while his mother, his wife and even his agent have been the subject of threats.
In mid-September, in Paris, Pogba was confronted for five hours by five of his relatives suspected of having played a role in his kidnapping.
The 2023-24 season was looking better for Pogba despite summer preparation disrupted by the aftermath of his injury and surgery.
Summoned for the first day of the Italian Championship for the trip to Udine, on the sidelines of which he was controlled by the anti-doping authorities, he did not play that day. But a week later, on August 27, he came on three months after his last match, in the home draw against Bologna (1-1).
In an interview with the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera broadcast just a few hours before the announcement of his positive test, Paul Pogba promised to come back “stronger”.
He must now hope to be able to come back at all.