Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has tested positive for testosterone, Italy’s anti-doping agency announced Monday.
The test was carried out after the Juventus match against Udinese on August 20.
Pogba did not play in the Serie A match but was on the bench for Juve.
Nado Italia, the anti-doping agency, said that Pogba was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.
While waiting for the trial and testing of the reserve B sample, he risks a suspension of up to four years.
“In acceptance of the case filed by the National Anti-doping Prosecutor, they imposed a temporary suspension on athlete Paul Labile Pogba,” Nado Italia said in a statement as quoted by ESPN.
The court said Pogba had breached anti-doping rules when they found the banned substance was a non-endogenous metabolite of testosterone, and added that the results were consistent with an exogenous origin of the target compound.
Juventus issued a statement acknowledging the positive result and the suspension, adding that they would “evaluate the next steps of the procedure.”
“We are waiting for the results of the reply analysis and cannot say anything until then,” said Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, in a statement carried by Italian media.
The only thing that is certain is that Paul Pogba never intended to break the rules.
It is another negative note for a player who has been plagued by injuries since re-joining Juventus from Manchester United just over a year ago.
He missed playing for France at last year’s World Cup due to a knee injury.
A police investigation is also underway in France into allegations that Pogba was targeted by blackmailers, including his older brother, Mathias, who denies any wrongdoing.
Earlier on Monday, Pogba said he was considering retirement when the incident occurred.
Pogba has not started this season but has made two appearances as a substitute, most recently playing in the 2-0 win at Empoli.
It is also another blow for Juventus after a season marred by investigations into fake finances and irregular reporting of salary payments.
This legal case resulted in the club from Turin being expelled by UEFA from European competitions this season.
Paul Pogba has not yet commented.
