Didier Deschamps told the press that he was ‘very surprised’ by the news that Paul Pogba had failed a routine doping test following France’s defeat at the hands of Germany on Tuesday evening.
The France national team coach insisted that he ‘can’t imagine’ Pogba consciously took any sort of banned substance, asserting: “Knowing him, he wouldn’t do it.”
Pogba has been suspended by the Italian anti-doping tribunal having failed a doping test on August 20 following Juventus’ 3-0 win over Udinese on the opening weekend of the Serie A season. Despite not featuring in the game, the 30-year-old tested positive for testosterone.
Speaking to French network TF1 after France’s 2-1 friendly loss to Germany on Tuesday evening, Deschamps touched on Pogba, noting: “Obviously I am very surprised but I have nothing to judge the matter on.
“He has a lot of things on his plate, it is a very difficult time. I will have time to speak to him in the next few days, I have already sent him a message.”
Asked whether he thought Pogba could have knowingly taken a banned substance, the France coach responded: “I can’t imagine it, knowing him he wouldn’t do it. He has a strong head on his shoulders. I remember the discussions we had about the Covid vaccine. But, the substance is in his body and we don’t know how it got there.”
On Monday, Juventus confirmed that Pogba had been suspended and as a result, has not been involved in training with the rest of the team since.
The Bianconeri would have the right to terminate Pogba’s contract, which runs until the summer of 2026, if the counter-analysis comes back positive.