Paul Pogba’s failed anti-doping result has been confirmed following further tests in Rome.
The Juventus midfielder was initially handed a provisional suspension by NADO (the Italian Anti-Doping Organisation) last month after he failed an anti-doping test.
According to FIFA, players can be banned for two or four years, subject to appeal and a reduction or suspension, if found to have violated its anti-doping regulations, depending on whether it can be proven that the rule violation was intentional.
NADO said that testosterone not produced by the body was detected in the sample Pogba provided following Juventus’ 3-0 win at Udinese on August 20. The 30-year-old was an unused substitute during that game but he did come off the bench in their next two matches against Bologna and Empoli before the September international break.
In a statement in September, Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said: “We await the B sample and until then we can’t say anything. What we can say for sure is Paul never wanted to break the rules.”
Speaking on Friday, Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri said: “I didn’t know (about the confirmation of the result). Let’s wait for the outcome of the investigation. On a personal level, I feel sorry for Paul.”
What happens now?
Following Pogba’s provisional suspension, his ‘B sample’ was sent for further tests at the Acqua Acetosa clinic in Rome. Now that it has been confirmed the sample was positive, Pogba will now be investigated by the anti-doping prosecutor’s office.
The France international now has a week to present the Anti-Doping Tribunal’s prosecutor, Pierfilippo Laviani, with his defence statements. Alternatively he can submit to questioning.
In his best-case scenario, Pogba could enter a plea bargain and, in return, commute his prospective sentence by no more than 50 per cent. Hypothetically that would halve the ban so in the event he was suspended for two years it could be reduced to one.
Once the investigation finishes, the anti-doping prosecutor’s office can either dismiss the case or refer Pogba to the Italian Olympic Committee’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal for a trial, where his potential punishment would be decided.
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Explained - Pogba doping test: Rules, how tests work, A and B samples and punishments
What is a B sample?
When players provide a sample, it is split into two parts which are labelled A and B.
If the A sample is positive for a banned substance, the B sample is checked as a precautionary measure, which is what will happen in Pogba’s case.
The player can request a B sample being tested within three days of a positive test. Once the request is made, the result of this test has to be delivered within seven days.
What are Juventus’ options?
Following the NADO announcement last month, Juventus stated they “reserve the right to consider the next procedural steps”.
The Italian club have been waiting for the outcome before deciding what to do and now Pogba’s positive sample has been confirmed, they are able to suspend his pay and guarantee a minimum wage of €39,000 (£33.7k, $41k) within the terms of the players’ collective bargaining agreement.
If Pogba is banned by the National Anti-Doping Tribunal, Juventus are within their rights to terminate his contract, which is due to expire in June 2026.
Have similar incidents happened before?
During his time at Ajax, traces of Furosemide were found in Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana’s system.
The substance was in a pack of tablets Onana’s wife was prescribed after giving birth and the goalkeeper accidentally took them. UEFA accepted Onana’s version of events but he was still given a 12-month ban, which was reduced to nine on appeal.
In July 2022, Atalanta defender Jose Palomino tested positive for clostebol metabolites. Palomino was unable to play for three months while he waited for an outcome but was absolved in September due to accidental contamination.
However, NADO is challenging the tribunal’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
(Photo: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
