Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has allegedly tested positive for the use of testosterone, a forbidden substance for professional footballers, according to a number of reports in Italy.
It is important to stress that the story has not yet been confirmed by any party involved in such testing – Pogba himself, Juventus, Serie A or the Italian Football Federation.
For now, it’s speculation at best – but it’s intriguing to see the story covered by multiple Italian publications.
According to news agency ANSA, the Juventus midfielder is said to have been found to have elevated levels of the hormone in random checks carried out after the club’s opening Serie A clash against Udinese on August 20.
Pogba didn’t play in the match, which makes the decision to test him a peculiar one, although he did feature as a substitute in games against Bologna and Empoli.
Sportsmediaset, as cited by the Manchester Evening News, have jumped on the story with claims that, if found guilty, Pogba faces a ban from all footballing activity for up to two years. Maybe four if Pogba is found guilty of taking testosterone knowingly.
After making just 10 appearances last season, this is the last news Juventus fans needed.
It will be interesting to see if Pogba is named in the Juventus squad to face Lazio on Saturday. That said, the Frenchman left Old Trafford under a grey cloud in 2022 and I don’t think anyone at the club misses him.
Pogba’s conduct and lack of consistency at United made him a terrible recruit, and a player we later lost on a free transfer (for a second time).
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