The Italian National Anti-Doping Court decided to temporarily suspend Paul Pogba, the Juventus midfielder, due to a doping violation.
The test, carried out after Juve’s victory over Udinese on August 20, revealed elevated levels of testosterone, the hormone that increases athletes’ endurance.
Nado Italia anti-doping agency said Pogba had been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. Pending trial and testing of the reserve B sample, he risks a suspension of up to four years.
It’s another negative note for a player who has been troubled by injuries since returning to Juventus from Manchester United just over a year ago. He was excluded from France’s squad for last year’s World Cup finals due to a knee injury.
There is also an ongoing police investigation in France into allegations that Pogba has been targeted by blackmailers, including his older brother Mathias, who has denied any wrongdoing.
It is also another blow for Juventus after a season marred by investigations into false accounting and erratic reporting of salary payments. Legal issues led to the Torino club being excluded by UEFA from European competition this season.
Pogba and Juventus had no immediate comment.
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