Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expressed deep regret on Saturday, March 2, over the doping suspension handed to Paul Pogba, describing the football world as having lost an “extraordinary” player due to the ban. Pogba received a four-year suspension from Italy’s anti-doping tribunal on Thursday for testing positive for testosterone early in the season, putting his future in the sport at risk. “It’s a significant loss for football and on a personal level, considering Pogba’s exceptional talent,” Allegri remarked during a press briefing before Juventus’s upcoming Serie A game against Napoli.
Having had the opportunity to coach Pogba, Allegri praised him as a unique player and a wonderful person. He also mentioned sending Pogba a message of support but refrained from commenting further on the active legal matter. Pogba, who played a pivotal role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, has had limited playtime with Juventus since his 2022 transfer from Manchester United, owing to injuries and now, the doping suspension.
Pogba’s team has attributed the presence of testosterone in his system to a food supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States. The suspension, pending appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), threatens to sideline Pogba until the 2027/28 season when he will be 34, assuming the ban is upheld.
This doping charge comes on the heels of a challenging period for Pogba, who had struggled to find his form during his return to Juventus, making only 10 appearances, and was sidelined from the World Cup in Qatar due to injury. He managed to play in two games for Juventus at the beginning of this season before the suspension took effect following a confirmed positive test in early October.
Additionally, Pogba finds himself at the center of an extortion investigation in France dating back to March 2022. Allegations involve an attempt by individuals, including Pogba’s elder brother Mathias and acquaintances from their childhood, who reportedly invaded Pogba’s residence near Paris, detaining him and demanding a ransom of 13 million euros (equivalent to US$14.1 million).
