Former Manchester United player Paul Pogba faces a four-year suspension after his testosterone B sample tested positive.
The France international has not played for Juventus since he was banned following the discovery that he had tested positive for testosterone. Pogba was chosen for a random test following the Old Lady’s 3-0 win against Udinese on August 20 after being an unused substitute.
Juventus is said to be considering suspending the 30-year-old’s pay if proceedings against him begin, and terminating his contract if he receives a ban.
In situations like Pogba’s, a four-year suspension is the most severe punishment, with a two-year ban being extended if it can be established that the player purposefully used a banned drug.
Pogba has a contract with Juventus through the summer of 2025. He agreed to that contract when he returned to the club as a free agent in 2022, coming to Turin for the second time after six years at Manchester United.
Pogba is supposed to be paid €7 million (£6 million/$7 million) every year, but that deal may be shattered if he is found guilty of doping charges in a sports trial and faces a lengthy suspension.
gba’s representative Rafaela Pimenta said: “We are waiting for the counter-analysis and until then we can’t say anything.
“The certain thing is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules.”
The revelation is just another setback for a player who has been plagued by injuries since rejoining Juventus from Manchester United a little over a year ago.
He missed France’s World Cup run last year owing to a knee injury and appeared in only six Serie A matches for Juventus last season.
Pogba has yet to start a game this season but has appeared as a substitute twice, most recently in a 2-0 win against Empoli.