Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been rocked by some serious allegations as he aims to get his career back on track at Juventus after struggling with injury troubles ever since leaving Old Trafford last year.
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Paul Pogba Reportedly Fails Anti-Doping Test
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What Has Pogba Been Accused Of?
Juventus have confirmed that Pogba has been suspended after failing anti-doping tests carried out last month against Udinese, saying in the statement: “Juventus Football Club announces that today, September 11, 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 August 20, 2023. The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”
Sky Sports have stated that the French midfielder has been found guilty of testing positive for testosterone, which is an illegal substance in football.
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Testestorone’s traces can be found in some anti-inflammatory gels or ointments and there are still no details on how Pogba tested positive for it. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the midfielder will need to undergo a counter-analysis test to confirm whether the substance was really in his body ahead of the last game, where he didn’t even play.
The Italian outlet also adds that the Frenchman faces a potential maximum suspension period of four years if he is found guilty of using the substance intentionally. He could also become the first Juventus player to be caught guilty of failing drug tests since Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids was suspended for the same in 2001.
What Has Gone Wrong for Pogba?
Pogba decided to leave Manchester United in the summer of 2022 after allowing his contract to run out and re-joined Juventus on a free transfer. However, his second stint at the Italian club has been disastrous so far, as he was only able to make 12 appearances for them since joining last summer and is yet to start a competitive game after returning.
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The 30-year-old stated in a recent interview with Al Jazeera that he contemplated retiring over alleged extortion and threats from a gang in 2022, including from his brother Matias, saying: “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.” The Frenchman is facing serious allegations over the drug tests now and needs to work hard to prove his innocence to save his career from plummeting further down.
