Pogba declined to enter into a settlement agreement with Italy’s Anti-Doping Agency, which means the case will now be brought before Italy’s Anti-Doping court.
Four-year suspensions are the norm under the World Anti-Doping Code, but they can be reduced if an athlete can prove they didn’t take the drugs intentionally, the positive test was due to contamination, or if they provide “substantial assistance” to investigators.
Pogba’s first positive test came in September, following a test taken after Juventus’ August 20 home game against Udinese. Pogba didn’t start that game, but was on the bench.
Pogba’s initial suspension was labelled as ‘precautionary’ by his club Juventus. “Juventus Football Club announces that today, September 11, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the results of tests carried out on August 20, 2023,” read a statement from the Serie A club.
Pogba’s agent had revealed that Pogba was working hard off the pitch to be fit and ready once his ban comes to an end. The agent also claimed that returning to football was the only thing on Pogba’s mind.
With the Italian anti-doping’s recommendation, it doesn’t look like Pogba will be on a football pitch playing a competitive game anytime soon.
