Italy's anti-doping tribunal chases four-year ban for Pogba

ROME, Dec 07 (AFP): France's World Cup winner Paul Pogba is facing the possibility of a lengthy ban after Italy's national anti-doping tribunal called for a four-year suspension for the Juventus midfielder, a club source told AFP on Thursday.

Pogba, 30, was provisionally suspended in September after he tested positive for testosterone.

A month later a B sample confirmed the presence of the substance. Proceedings by the Italian sports justice system are underway while the Turin public prosecutor's office has also started a judicial investigation, as doping is a criminal offence in Italy.

"I can confirm that we received this morning this notification from the anti-doping agency with four years (suspension) requested," the Juve source told AFP.

The 2018 World Cup winner's sample was reportedly taken at his club's opening match of the Serie A season, a win at Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.

Pogba's representatives said the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.