Paul Pogba banned after failing drug test

Paul Pogba has been provisionally banned after testing positive for the Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) testosterone.

The Italian National Anti-Drug Tribunal has banned Pogba whilst they open an investigation into the cause of this positive test.

The National Anti-Drug Tribuna released a statement saying, “In acceptance of the request proposed by the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office, it has taken steps to suspend the athlete Paul Pogba on a precautionary basis”

In response to Pogba’s ban, his club, Juventus also released a statement in which they said, “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”.

Pogba’s hopes rest on a secondary, or ‘B’ sample to determine if the initial tests were correct and he was indeed taking PEDs.

Once the ‘B’ sample is taken and tested, Pogba will face a trial where, if found guilty, he could face up to a four-year ban.

Pogba’s representative Rafaela Pimenta told Sky Sports News, “We are waiting for the counter analysis and until then we can't say anything. The certain thing is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules.”

Once seen as one of the most exciting young players in Europe, and a key part of France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, this is the latest in a series of issues that have caused Pogba to be a shadow of his former self.