Paul Pogba Risks Four-year Ban After Second Positive Test

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is facing the risk of a four-year football ban after his testosterone B sample came back positive.

The France international has not featured for Juventus since he was suspended from playing after it was confirmed he had tested positive for testosterone. After being an unused substitute, Pogba was selected for a random test following the Old Lady’s 3-0 win over Udinese on August 20.

That test showed elevated levels of testosterone, and a counter-analysis sample has since been checked, with that also coming back positive, according to Fabrizio Romano. The National Anti-Doping Tribunal will now determine the charge for Pogba, who could face a ban of between two and four years.

Meanwhile, Juventus are set to decide upon how to deal with Pogba’s contract, as the Frenchman still has almost three years left on his current deal. Pogba re-joined Juventus following his release from United last summer, but struggled during his first season back at the Allianz Stadium.

Pogba missed around five months of action after undergoing surgery on a knee issue. He returned to the bench for the home game against Monza in January, before picking up another injury concern, this time it was his groin which kept him out for three Serie A matches.

After coming on as a second-half substitute against Torino and Roma, Pogba sustained a tear in his abductor muscle. He played a further eight times in all competitions, including first-half of the Europa League semi-final defeat against Sevilla, where he provided his first and only assist of the season.

Pogba had missed the final four matches through a hamstring problem but returned for pre-season as he tried to improve on what was a frustrating campaign. He was an unused substitute in that opening day victory over Udinese, before coming on against Bologna and Empoli – playing a combined 50 mimuted.