Serie A: Paul Pogba's appearance before the Italian anti-doping court postponed

The appearance before the Italian anti-doping court scheduled for January 18 of Paul Pogba, who tested positive for testosterone in August, has been postponed to a date yet to be defined, a source with knowledge of the case told AFP on Wednesday. According to this source, the Italian anti-doping court granted the request of the French international's lawyers and a new date for his appearance has not yet been set.

Contacted by AFP, Paul Pogba's representatives did not wish to comment, while the Italian anti-doping court did not respond. At the beginning of December, the Italian anti-doping prosecution requested a four-year suspension against the 2018 world champion, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

This suspension can, however, be reduced by half if the Frenchman demonstrates non-intentionality.

Pogba, 30, tested positive last August, during the match between Udinese and Juventus, counting for the first day of the Italian Championship, in which he did not participate. The midfielder, whose 2022-23 season was disrupted by injuries and extra-sporting problems, was provisionally suspended on September 11, before the second opinion he had requested confirmed less than one month later the presence of testosterone metabolites.

To explain this positive doping control, those around “La Pioche” had indicated that the testosterone metabolites would come from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor that the player consulted in the United States.

Testosterone, the hormone of fertility and male sexuality, promotes muscle development.