Juventus's France midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance, Italy's national anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal said on Monday.
The test, performed after Juve's 3-0 Serie A season-opening victory at Udinese on Aug. 20, detected testosterone, a hormone that increases athletes' endurance.
"In acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Anti-doping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete Paul Labile Pogba," NADO Italia said in a statement.
The tribunal said Pogba had violated anti-doping rules when they found the prohibited substance "non-endogenous testosterone metabolites", adding that the results were "consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds".
The 30-year-old Pogba was an unused substitute in the win at Udinese. Juventus said they had been informed of the provisional suspension and were evaluating the next steps.
If found guilty of doping, Pogba could be suspended for between two and four years. He will now await the results of the B Sample test.
"We are waiting for the results of the counter-analysis and cannot say anything until then," Pogba's agent Rafaela Pimenta said in a statement reported by Italian media.
"The only certain thing is that Paul Pogba never intended to break the rules."
TORRID SPELL
Pogba has had a torrid second spell with Juve due to injuries since he returned to the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer last year.
The 2018 World Cup winner barely played last season due to knee and hamstring injuries as well as knee surgery which prevented him playing for France at the World Cup in Qatar.
Pogba has yet to start a game this season but has made two substitute appearances, last playing in the 2-0 win at Empoli.
Pogba's contract with Juve expires in June 2026.
Apart from injury troubles, Pogba said last year he was the target of extortion attempts and threats from an organised gang, with his brother Mathias placed under formal investigation.
Paul told the Paris prosecution office that he had been the target of extortion by childhood friends since March 2022 and had paid 100,000 euros ($107,450) to that group in the spring.
Mathias was taken into custody in September last year and released in December. The 33-year-old, who has also played professionally, denied the allegations against him.
In an interview with Al Jazeera published on Monday, Paul said he had considered retiring from the sport having been worn down by the alleged extortion attempts and threats.
"Sometimes I was just by myself thinking, 'I don't want to have money anymore. I just don't want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me - not for the fame, not for the money,'" he said.
Reuters
Tue Sep 12 2023
The tribunal said Paul Pogba had violated anti-doping rules when they found the prohibited substance "non-endogenous testosterone metabolites". - REUTERS/Filepic
TPM Fadillah tiba di Bali untuk hadir mesyuarat kepimpinan tertinggi Forum Air Dunia
Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof akan mewakili Malaysia dalam mesyuarat kepimpinan tertinggi di Forum Air Dunia (WWF) kali ke-10 di sini bermula esok.
Polis siasat ugutan bunuh terhadap Teresa Kok
Polis mengesahkan menerima laporan mengenai ugutan terhadap Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok Suh Sim pada Ahad.
AWANI Ringkas: Serangan balai polis | Ancaman terhadap Ahli Parlimen
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PM gesa AS henti salur senjata kepada Israel
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menggesa Amerika Syarikat (AS) menghentikan penyaluran bekalan senjata kepada Israel serta menggunakan kuasa vetonya untuk menamatkan kekejaman di Palestin.
Timbalan Presiden, CEO KDNFC letak jawatan
Timbalan Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Kelantan Darul Naim FC (KDNFC) meletakan jawatan masing-masing, berkuat kuasa hari ini.
Raja Salman jalani pemeriksaan kedua dalam tempoh kurang sebulan
Raja Arab Saudi, Raja Salman dilaporkan menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan buat kali kedua dalam tempoh kurang sebulan selepas didapati mengalami peningkatan suhu badan yang tinggi dan sakit sendi.
Tema revolusihat, apa yang boleh kita jangkakan?
Minggu ini kesemua peserta The Hardest Singing Show dicabar dengan tema Revolusihat yang menggabungkan nyanyian dan juga sukan.
Berjayakah mereka menampilkan kelainan?
Berjayakah mereka menampilkan kelainan?
Malaysia negara pertama terima, TH edar Kad Haji Nusuk
Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) telah mula mengedarkan kad haji Nusuk bagi musim haji 1445H/2024M secara berperingkat kepada jemaah haji negara pada 18 Mei, menjadikan Malaysia antara negara terawal yang berbuat demikian bagi memperkemaskan proses dan meningkatkan langkah keselamatan untuk jemaah.
PM desak AS henti salur senjata kepada Israel
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menggesa Amerika Syarikat untuk menghentikan penyaluran bekalan senjata kepada Israel serta menggunakan kuasa vetonya untuk menamatkan kekejaman di Palestin.
Polis siasat ugutan bunuh terhadap Teresa Kok
Polis mengesahkan menerima laporan mengenai ugutan terhadap Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok Suh Sim pada Ahad.
Pogba kembali cedera, penampilan bersama Juventus tertunda lagi
Dia mengalami kecederaan lutut dalam aksi pramusim sebelum menjalani pembedahan, menyaksikan dia terlepas aksi sehingga ke hari ini.
Pogba sangkal Cristiano Ronaldo bermasalah di bilik persalinan
Pogba mengingatkan ketika masalah di kem United memuncak, Ronaldo sering menjadi penyelamat maruah mereka dengan menghasilkan jaringan penting.
Skandal peras ugut: Paul Pogba diberi perlindungan polis Turin
Paul Pogba kini berada di bawah perlindungan polis di Turin.
Pogba menderita masalah lutut, jejas peluang ke Piala Dunia Qatar
Paul Pogba sudah pasti berharap perpindahannya ke Juventus akan menjadi satu nafas baru buatnya.
Paul Pogba kembali ke Juventus selepas meninggalkan Man Utd dengan perpindahan percuma
Pemain tengah Perancis Paul Pogba kembali ke Juventus selepas meninggalkan Manchester United dengan perpindahan itu dilakukan secara percuma.
Paul Pogba tinggalkan Manchester United secara ejen bebas
Pogba dijangka sekali lagi meninggalkan United apabila kontraknya tamat dan ia kini disahkan kelab berkenaan.
Belum ada keputusan mengenai masa depan Pogba
Pogba mengalami naik-turun prestasi di Old Trafford sejak kembali menyertai pasukan itu daripada Juventus.
Pogba keliru posisi sebenarnya di Manchester United
Kontraknya akan tamat hujung kempen ini dan dia dijangka berhijrah apabila Juve dan Barcelona antara kelab yang dilaporkan berminat.
Piala FA: Paul Pogba kembali perkuat Manchester United
Bulan lalu, mereka menjangkakan Pogba perlu berehat sekurang-kurangnya untuk sebulan lagi.
Kelayakan Piala Dunia: Pogba terlepas dua perlawanan terakhir Perancis
Paul Pogba mengalami kecederaan paha dan akan terlepas dua perlawanan terakhir Perancis dalam pusingan kelayakan Piala Dunia.