Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for failing drugs test

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal after failing a drugs test.

The France international tested positive for testosterone in a random drugs test following Juventus’ Serie A game against Udinese on August 20, when he was an unused substitute.

Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal confirmed Pogba’s positive sample for testosterone.

A statement from the anti-doping body read: “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 (FIGC) for the violation of articles 2.1, 2.2; prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites (The GC/c/IRMS results are consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds).”.

The player’s club, Juventus also reacted to the news:

“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,” a statement from the Serie A side read.

“The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”

If found guilty of doping, Pogba could serve a suspension between two and four years.