Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after a doping test revealed the presence of the banned drug testosterone, according to Italian anti-doping authorities (NADO) on Monday.
“The National Antidoping Tribunal informs that, in acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Antidoping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete Paul Labile Pogba,” NADO said in a statement to AFP.
NADO said the “prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites”, was consistent with a doping infringement.
According to the Italian press, the drug test was performed on the first day of the Italian Serie A season, a 3-0 win against Udinese on August 20, during which the 30-year-old was an unused replacement.
The test is for the ‘A’ sample, and if the ‘B’ sample also tests positive for testosterone, Pogba could be banned for four years.
NADO issued a statement on Monday to explain earlier-in-the-day reports in the Italian press about Pogba, who was hoped to play for Juventus against Lazio this weekend.
Pogba was a star player in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph but had an awful 2022-2023 season blighted by injury and a blackmail affair.
He played just ten games for Juventus that season and missed the 2022 World Cup with France.