French football star Paul Pogba currently faces a four-year ban for doping after the Juventus midfielder tested positive for testosterone.
Pogba opted not to make a plea bargain with Italy’s anti-doping agency, which means the case will be tried before the country’s anti-doping court which could be bad news for the Frenchman.
The anti-doping prosecutors in Italy have requested a maximum four-year ban which is the standard under the World Anti-Doping Code but can be reduced in cases where an athlete can prove their doping was unintentional.
Pogba could also get a reduced ban if the positive test was a result of contamination or if he provides ‘substantial assistance’ to help investigators.
At 30 years old, a four-year ban would effectively end Pogba’s career having only just re-joined Juventus as a free agent in the summer of 2022 on a four-year contract.
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Pogba tested positive in September, after an exam that was carried out after Juventus’ game at Udinese on August 20 this year and then tested positive again in the counter analysis.
The substance discovered in both samples of Pogba’s blood was DHEA, which helps the body produce other hormones, such as testosterone and has been banned.
