What now for Paul Pogba? Latest on Juventus star amid doping suspension
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 7 Dec 2023 12:24 GMT
- 4 min read
Pau Pogba’s future in professional football is in question after the Juventus midfielder’s failed doping test in August 2023.
The former Manchester United star faces a ban of up to four years following a random drug test taken after his club’s 3-0 win at Udinese on 20 August.
After failing the initial drugs test due to traces of the banned substance DHEA in his system, a B sample also confirmed the positive result.
Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (NADO Italia) announced it had taken the measure to suspend the veteran on a provisional basis and now Pogba awaits his sentence.
On 3 November, Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Pogba faces "at least" a two-year ban, which would mean that his return to football would not come until he was 32 - putting serious doubt over his entire career.
On 7 December, it was confirmed that the Anti-Drug Prosector's Office has issued a request that Pogba be suspended for four years from professional football. This is the maximum available ban for his offence, though the player will have the opportunity to negotiate a plea bargain to reduce the sentence.
Multiple outlets now expect him to go on trial in front of the national anti-doping tribunal.
Pogba, whose contract is up in 2026 at the Old Lady, is not allowed to participate in training or games and so has been keeping his fitness up individually. Moreover, he has had his pay suspended by the Turin giants and is earning a statutory €42,000 per year.
Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli previously told La Repubblica on the matter: “We’re waiting for the counter-analysis. Termination of the contract? We wait then we will decide with Pogba’s camp how to proceed. It’s just time to look forward.”
It is an ominous message for a player with 91 France caps, who stands to lose a fortune.
Pogba’s Juventus future
Pogba’s future at Juventus now looks bleak. The worst-case scenario for him, a four-year ban, would surely end his professional career, and though the suspension could be reduced to two years if he can prove the drugs were not taken intentionally, it would be surprising if the Serie A club were to hold out for him.
It is widely reported that Juventus will rescind his contract in the event of a long ban.
Equally, the ban could last just a few months if his use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not linked to his level of performance”.
Until this has been determined, his club are unlikely to change their stance.
Juventus said in a statement at the time: "Juventus Football Club announces that today, 11 September, 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 20 August, 2023. The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps."
Pogba's agent Rafaela Pimenta said she was "awaiting the second sample and cannot have an opinion before the results. What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule”.
The 30-year-old re-signed Pogba on a four-year deal in the summer of 2022 after the player left Manchester United as a free agent.
But his return to the club has been hampered by injury woes - Pogba has played a total of 51 minutes this season, coming on as a substitute against Bologna and Empoli. Indeed, there is every chance that it has come to a premature end.
