"The National Anti-Doping Tribunal informs that in accordance with the recommendation of the national anti-doping prosecutor, it has pronounced the provisional suspension of Paul Labile Pogba," Nado said in a statement to AFP.

The penalty was imposed for "violation of Articles 2.1 and 2.2 for the presence of the following prohibited substances: testosterone metabolites," she added.

The Nado does not specify the date of the control but according to the Italian press, which revealed the information, Pogba was checked on August 20 after the match between Udine and Juventus, counting for the first day of the Italian Championship, during which he did not come into play.

Four years of suspension?

If the second opinion of his B sample confirms the presence of testosterone metabolites, he is liable to a four-year suspension.

Pogba, 30, has had a nightmarish 2022-23 season on and off the pitch. The 2018 world champion collected injuries, which limited the number of matches played during this exercise to ten and deprived him of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He was also the victim of an organized extortion attempt involving one of his brothers, Mathias.

On August 27, Pogba, whose last match was on May 14, made his return to competition during the draw of his home team against Bologna (1-1) in the Italian Championship.

The "rage" and the "desire to play"

"Of course, I'm happy to be back on the pitch, to be able to do what I love above all in the world, to feel good physically and to be able to help the team," he told DAZN after the match.

He came into play the following weekend during the match against Empoli, counting for the 3rd matchday, but finished the match diminished because of a pain in his right thigh. The examinations had proved reassuring.

Pau before the announcement of his positive test, the Frenchman had assured to have the "rage" and "the desire to play" this season, believing that his extra-sporting problems had made him "stronger", in an interview broadcast by Al Jazeera.

With AFP

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