Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is in the midst of a drug scandal as his secondary doping samples have tested positive for a prohibited substance, raising concerns about his future at the club.
The substance in question is DHEA, a substance known for potentially enhancing naturally produced testosterone and sometimes found in supplements.
Pogba, who had been provisionally suspended by Juventus after the initial positive test results from doping tests conducted in August, is now facing a significant ban, which could have severe implications for his career.
Despite being an unused substitute in a match against Udinese, which Juventus won 3-0, Pogba was summoned by anti-doping officials for further investigations.
Even though he and his team insisted on a counter-analysis, the results have unfortunately confirmed the presence of the banned substance in his secondary samples.
In cases of doping rule violations, the maximum sentence can extend up to four years, significantly affecting Pogba's footballing career. However, he remains determined to prove that he did not knowingly consume the prohibited substance.
Currently earning around £8.6 million per year at Juventus, Pogba has three years remaining on his contract with the club. His return to Juventus from Manchester United was on a free transfer, but injury concerns limited him to just eight Serie A appearances last season.