Problems are increasing for Juventus’ midfielder Paul Pogba as anti-doping prosecutors in Italy have requested for a four-year maximum ban on the 30-year-old on Thursday.
Pogba’s positive test was announced by Juventus in September which the club carried after their match against Udinese on August 20. Although the midfielder didn’t play in that match but he was on the bench.
The midfielder had decided not to make a plea bargain with the country’s anti-doping agency which means that he would be tested in front of the national anti-doping court.
The four-year ban that is proposed by the prosecutors is standard under the World Anti-Doping Code. However, that can be reduced if it is proven that the dosage of the forbidden substance wasn’t intentional or if the positive test was a result of contamination, or if they provide "substantial assistance" to help investigators.
If the four-year ban is imposed, Pogba’s career could as well be over.
The 2018 World Cup winner has not made a public statement on this issue however his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said in September that: “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules.”
During his prime, Paul Pogba was widely recognised as one of the world's top midfielders and played a pivotal role in France's triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign. However, in recent years, he encountered challenges related to injuries and form, which resulted in him missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to injury. After an underwhelming stint at Manchester United, Pogba made his return to Juventus in 2022.
In the previous season, the 30-year-old saw limited playing time due to injury and made only two substitute appearances for Juventus in the league since the commencement of the current campaign.