Pogba suspended over doping claims

By Peter Ochieng

French footballer Paul Labile Pogba was on Monday provisionally suspended from playing after reportedly failing a doping test.

The 30-year-old midfielder who plays for Italian Seria A giants Juventus, returned a test with elevated levels of testosterone on August 20th, 2023, after Juventus beat Udinese in a Seria A clash.

This is according to the Italy national anti-doping tribunal (NADO).

Pogba was randomly selected for the post-match drug testing, after being unused substitute during the game.

Nado says he violated anti-doping rules when they found the prohibited substance, known as non-endogenous testosterone metabolites, and that the results were "consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds."

Juvents confirmed on its social media platforms that the Word Cup winner with the France national team in 2018, had failed a dopping test.

"Juventus Football Club announces that today, 11 September, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the results of tests carried out on 20 August, 2023. The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps."

He has three days to defend himself, and provide results of a parallel test.

If found guilty, the play-maker may face a ban of between 1 and 4 years.

He rejoined Juventus from Manchester United in 2022.

His time in Turin has been marred by injuries, making him a shadow of the player that guided France to World Cup glory in 2018.

Several other athletes, among them Manchester United and Cameroon first choice goalkeeper Andre Onana have in the past been banned for use of banned substances.