After a nightmare season between injuries and a blackmail affair, Juventus’ French midfielder Paul Pogba’s dreams of bouncing back seem to have been shattered again.
The 30-year-old has been provisionally suspended after a shocking detection of elevated levels of testosterone, Italian anti-doping authorities (NADO) told AFP on Monday.
On Monday, the 2018 world champion revealed his “desire to play” after an evidently “difficult year”. But he saw a fresh blow adding to his pile of existing challenges.
According to NADO, Pogba had violated anti-doping regulations when they found the prohibited substance “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites”.
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In a statement, Turin-based Juventus said Pogba had “received a precautionary suspension”, adding it “reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”
The player now faces an anxious wait for the ‘B’ test. The suspension concerns the ‘A’ sample and if the ‘B’ one also raises concerns, he could face a four-year ban.
Pogba has a promising history supporting him. France’s 2018 World Cup victory counts him as a star player. He also helped Juve grab a number of accolades for the club from 2012 to 2016.
He rejoined the Italian club in July last year from Manchester United. But he had an awful 2022-23 season, when he missed the World Cup with France and played just ten games for Juventus.
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Pogba Contemplated Retirement Over Extortion Case
Last year, a probe was opened into allegations that the player was the target of an extortion attempt by his childhood friends and brother Mathias demanding €13 million from him.
Pogba said he considered retiring from professional football over the alleged case, adding: “Money changes people … It can break up a family.”
“Sometimes I was just by myself thinking: ‘I don’t want to have money anymore … I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me,” he mentioned.
Despite the setbacks, Pogba appears to be determined to prove his critics wrong and bounce back. Keep an eye out on The Asian Affairs for further updates.
