Severe penalty possible
Former Manchester United and current Juventus star Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended by Italy’s anti-doping agency NADO. The player tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’ away game at Udinese Calcio (3-0) on matchday 1 of the new Serie A season. Pogba didn’t play in the game that took place on Aug. 20 but was on the bench.
According to NADO, Pogba’s result exceeded the limit of non-endogen testosterone. According to Italian media, Pogba now has three days to produce a counter-analysis. But if found guilty, the doping ban would carry a suspension from playing that would last between 2-4 years.
After four years with the club, Pogba left Juventus in 2016 for a record transfer fee €105 million to his former academy club Manchester United. The Frenchman then returned to Italy on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. Injuries have kept Pogba to just 12 games with Juve since his return, and the 30-year-old also missed the 2022 World Cup.
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Paul Pogba doping test – The end of a once-promising career?
If found guilty, it would surely be the end of what was considered to be a promising career. Developed by Man United, Pogba became a world-class midfielder at Juventus, where his market value grew from €6m to €70m. That market value would grow by another €30m to €100m following the 2018/19 season in which Pogba scored 13 goals and nine assists in 35 Premier League games.
That season would be a high point that Pogba was never able to reproduce. With his output decreasing every year, Pogba saw his market value reduce to €48m during his last campaign with Man United. The drop in market value has not slowed down since joining Juve either, with Pogba hitting a low €15m following the last Serie A market value update. That market value is the lowest in over ten years. The positive doping test, now more than ever, will put a question mark on the future of the midfielder’s career.
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