Paul Pogba tested positive for a doping product, it was the bombshell of Monday night. The 2018 world champion, who is now awaiting analysis of the B sample, faces a four-year suspension. His positive test on August 20 after the match between Udinese and Juventus, raises questions. And in particular the product found in his urine, testosterone. Explanations.
What is testosterone?
It is a so-called androgen hormone, that is, allowing the appearance of male sexual characteristics. It is present in very large quantities in men, especially from puberty, since it is necessary for the production of spermatozoa and the appearance of libido. And in much smaller quantities in women.
It is produced naturally at 90% by the testicles and 10% by the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys. "Testosterone is the male hormone par excellence. It is the hormone of physical, psychic, and of course sexual tone, "summarizes Antoine Faix, urologist-andrologist in Montpellier.
What's the point of taking it?
If this hormone is naturally secreted by the body, it can also be administered "exogenously". Testosterone can be ingested in capsules that are swallowed, applied with a transcutaneous gel, or simply, directly injected into a muscle via a syringe.
"For a so-called average patient, it can be prescribed by a sexologist for example to boost libido, especially in case of breakdown problem," explains to the Parisian Jean-Jacques Menuet, sports doctor. After testing positive for testosterone, LaShawn Merritt, the American Olympic champion in the 400m in 2008, said he took it during a "treatment" to enlarge his penis.
Paul Pogba tested positive: "He never wanted to break the rules," defends his entourage
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But testosterone has a completely different interest in the athlete. "It's an exercise hormone, it facilitates performance. On the physical level, we can have a gain in power, muscle growth, and to a lesser extent a recovery aid (Editor's note, Paul Pogba was back from injury). At the mental level, it will make you want to get into sporting and sexual life, "decrypts the one who has worked with several professional cycling teams.
This is why it is "one of the most used products by athletes who dope," concludes Michel Audran, professor emeritus in biophysics at the University of Montpellier, former director of the French anti-doping laboratory.
Why is it on the list of prohibited products?
Testosterone is on the list of banned products by the World Anti-Doping Agency as of January 1, 2023. It belongs to the first category of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), and is therefore banned in and out of competition.
"Regulations ban products for two reasons. First, anything that can have an impact on the health of the athlete, but testosterone can facilitate the growth of certain tumors. And then, the main reason, the products that facilitate performance and that set up inequality between sports players. Testosterone therefore fits into both boxes," says Jean-Jacques Menuet.
Can we ingest it without his knowledge?
Unintentionality is the main line of defense of athletes who test positive. Can Paul Pogba have taken testosterone unintentionally? For sports doctor Jean-Jacques Menuet, it is not impossible: "It can be the taking of a polluted food supplement. Concretely, a little more than 10% of these supplements have products absent on the leaflet. But if the player is well followed, it is hard to believe that he had access to a 'bad' dietary supplement."
VIDEO. Pogba suspended after positive doping test
Another potential explanation: an ingestion in his diet. "Theoretically, there are no pitfalls in the daily diet. But there may be some doubts about contaminated meat, with oxen boosted with testosterone, "tempers the former doctor of Arkéa-Samsic. In cycling, two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador defended himself in this way when he tested positive for clenbuterol in 2010.
But in the end, that answer doesn't matter. The World Anti-Doping Code continues to be based on the principle of strict liability. "The athlete is held responsible for any prohibited substance that he absorbs or that is administered to him and any prohibited method that he uses or that is applied to him," says the French Agency for the Fight against Doping on its website. In short, if Paul Pogba succeeds in proving that taking testosterone was not intentional, he could have his sentence reduced. Italian footballer José-Luis Palomino, who tested positive for Nandrolone, was first suspended for 4 months and then "cleared" after convincing his "judges" that he had ingested the steroid accidentally.