Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is facing a two-year ban from football as he is likely to face a sporting trial in Italy, having failed a doping test in August. The Frenchman returned a positive test following Juve’s win over Udinese earlier this season, and is counter analysis, submitted last month, also returned positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report how Pogba has ‘suffered his first defeat’ in the process, having requested that his case be heard at a single hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The request was rejected by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency), meaning he is now on course for a trial in Italy.
The newspaper outline how Pogba can either come to an agreement with the anti-doping prosecutors, which would result in a likely halving of his ban, or take the risk of a sporing trial at the Anti-Doping Sports Tribunal. Gazzetta note that should the Frenchman opt for the first route, he would still require approval from WADA and would be unable to appeal the decision.
Investigations are ongoing, but an outcome is expected in the next two weeks, while Pogba, who is still unable to train with Juventus, has been confined to working with a personal trainer for the time being.
