Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been temporarily suspended after testing positive for testosterone.
Testosterone is a hormone that increases the endurance of athletes.
Multiple media outlets in Italy said the Frenchman could face a four-year ban from football if found guilty of using the banned substance.
His club released a statement confirming the reports saying the midfielder has been provisionally suspended.
"Juventus announces that the player Paul Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the adverse outcome of the analysis carried out on August 20, 2023. The club reserves the right to evaluate," the statement said.
Italy's national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) said Pogba returned a test with elevated levels of testosterone after his team's first game of the season against Udinese which they won 3-0.
Pogba did not feature in the game but was named as a substitute.
Pogba has found it difficult to settle at his former club since leaving Manchester United last year and his short stint has been riddled with injuries and fitness problems which also saw him miss last year's World Cup in Qatar.
He re-joined Juventus as a free agent in July 2022 after his contract expired at Manchester United.
Pogba has made only 10 appearances since making a shift back to his youth club, playing just 108 minutes in all.
This season, the talismanic midfielder has played a combined 51 minutes as a substitute against Bologna and Empoli.
Sporting rules in general prohibit the use of banned substances and their use or attempted use is punishable by a ban or fine, or both.