The Frenchman’s adventure in black and white ends, perhaps even his career: he tested positive for testosterone in August 2023.
Paul Pogba has been banned for 4 years after testing positive for doping. The Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s request has been granted: now, in addition to his contract with Juventus (which is overridden by the imposed suspension), the French midfielder’s career hangs in the balance. Approaching the age of 31, the player faces deep reflections on his future, especially considering he has also endured several seasons of almost inactivity due to well-known physical problems.
POSITIVE DOPING TEST
The Frenchman tested positive for doping after the Udinese-Juventus match on August 20, 2023: confirmation from subsequent tests triggered the process for the lengthy suspension. Now, it’s up to Juventus to assess his contract management: Since the suspension (as per company policy), Pogba has been banned from attending Continassa and put on a minimum wage regime (around 2 thousand euros). His current contract was supposed to expire on June 30, 2026, but it’s now invalidated by the ban.
THE EVENTS
There couldn’t have been a worse ending to the midfielder’s return to Juventus. Since the summer of 2022, when he returned to Turin as a free agent, he has been plagued by setback after setback, often with direct responsibilities. First, the lateral meniscus injury during the summer tour in 2022, then the decision to postpone the operation, only to be eventually forced to undergo it later. Then he was out of the World Cup, on the field for just brief moments towards the end of last season and a false restart last summer. Pogba reportedly took supplements not allowed for athletes in Italy, leading to his testosterone level exceeding the limit.
