October 6, 2023
Updated 2 hours ago
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Paul Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer in July 2022 after his contract with Manchester United expired
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba’s failed drug test has been confirmed after his B sample came back positive.
Pogba, 30, was provisionally suspended last month after his first sample showed elevated testosterone levels in his body.
The France international was selected for a sample after Juve’s 3-0 win at Udinese on August 20, when he had not yet come off the bench.
If he is found guilty of doping, he could face a ban of between two and four years.
After Pogba’s first ban was confirmed in September, anti-doping organization Nado Italia said he had broken the rules when the test found banned non-endogenous testosterone metabolites and the results were “consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds.” “.
Testosterone is a hormone that increases endurance in athletes.
It is understood Pogba will fight to clear his name as he is believed to have taken the banned substance unintentionally.
At the time of the first ban, Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said: “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break any rule.”
However, Pogba’s return to Turin was linked to ongoing injury problems which also saw him miss last year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Pogba has played a total of 51 minutes as a substitute in games against Bologna and Empoli this season.
Last season he managed 108 minutes in six Serie A games, three short appearances and one assist in the Europa League and 11 minutes in the Coppa Italia – a total of 162 minutes and no goals.
Pogba’s injury problems have recently resurfaced. Juventus coach Massimo Allegri said the player suffered a slight back problem after his performance against Empoli.
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