Anti-doping prosecutors in Italy requested a maximum four-year ban for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba on Thursday after the World Cup winner tested positive for testosterone.
Pogba opted not to make a plea bargain with Italy’s anti-doping agency, meaning the case will be tried before the country’s anti-doping court.
If the four-year ban is confirmed, it could end the 30-year-old Pogba´s career.
Four-year bans are standard under the World Anti-Doping Code but can be reduced in cases where an athlete can prove their doping was not intentional, if the positive test was a result of contamination or if they provide “substantial assistance” to help investigators.
Pogba´s positive test was announced in September, stemming from an exam that was carried out after Juventus´ game at Udinese on August 20. Pogba did not play in the Serie A match but was on Juve´s bench.
Pogba has made no public comments on the case.
“Humanely, I´m sorry for Paul,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said in October.
The doping case is another negative note for a player who has been bothered by injuries ever since rejoining Juventus from Manchester United in July of last year. He was ruled out of France´s run to the World Cup final last year due to a knee injury, played in only six Serie A matches for Juventus last season and two this season.
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There´s also been a police investigation ongoing in France into allegations that Pogba was targeted by extortionists – including by his older brother Mathias, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Pogba scored for France in the 4-2 win over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final. He played in 178 matches for Juventus from 2012-16.