New problems for Paul Pogba: The 30-year-old French midfielder would turn out tested positive for testosterone in an anti-doping test carried out after the match between Udinese and Juventus on 20 August, the first day of Serie A, won by the Bianconeri 3-0, in which the Frenchman remained on the bench. The news filtered from sporting circles. According to the Anti-Doping Sports Code, in case of confirmation of positivity the player would risk up to 4 years of disqualification for the use of a prohibited substance. Sometimes testosterone is taken unknowingly through ointments or gels. For the “Octopus” it is another tile after a very difficult season at Juventus, between injuries and psychological problems. His return to the black and white after six years proved to be a flop: first the injury to the lateral meniscus of his right knee during the summer tour, then the surgery delayed, in vain, to avoid missing the World Cup in Qatar.
He only returned to the field on 28 February (due to a groin strain), but after just 161 minutes in 10 games he suffered another thigh injury which put an end to a season which was also a one for Juve. forget. The specter of extortion threats from his brother Mathias continued to hover over the former Manchester United player, a case which after his complaint will be discussed this week before the Paris Court and for which he will receive protection from the Turin Police. Shortly before the “bomb” of positivity came out, Pogba had let off steam in an interview with Al Jazeera: «In those days I thought ‘I don’t want any more money, I’ll stop playing. I just want to be with normal people, who will love me for who I am, not for the fame or my money. Sometimes it’s really hard.” «I want to show that I am not weak. They can speak badly of me but I will never give up”, he assured. In recent weeks there had also been talk of a possible transfer to Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia for Pogba, despite the recurring physical problems already at United with just 49 games played in the last two seasons for the Red Devils. The offending substance, testosterone, is the male sexual hormone par excellence and acts on the brain leading to an increase in aggression, motivation and determination, as well as shortening recovery times because the micro-tears that occur during muscle contraction heal sooner.
According to what SportMediaset reports, the Juventus midfielder “will be suspended as a precaution and will have three days to request counter-analysis. If the positive test is confirmed, Pogba will be judged by the national anti-doping tribunal unless a plea deal is opted for. The disqualification, in cases of doping, reaches up to two years, which could become four in the event of proven intentionality“.