Pogba's anti-doping tribunal 'has been delayed' for more time to sort defence

Paul Pogba's anti-doping tribunal hearing has been delayed to give the player's legal team more time to prepare their defensive strategy, according to reports.

The Juventus midfielder has endured a nightmare return to Italy since leaving Manchester United following the expiration of his contract at the club last year.

Repeat injuries plagued his first season back in Turin, before he tested positive for testosterone after Juventus' first Serie A match of the season against Udinese on August 20.

Pogba has denied using the banned substance and is preparing a full defence after it was revealed that Italian prosecutors want to secure a four-year ban for the World Cup winner.

The 30-year-old has hired a top sports lawyer in a bid to prove the allegations wrong and they are now appealing for more time to be given to them ahead of the initial January 18 deadline, as reported by Tuttosport.

It is further claimed that the request from Pogba's team has been accepted and the hearing has been postponed until further notice while a new date is established.

The doping test focusses on Pogba being found to have testosterone-boosting DHEA in his system, with the player already being provisionally suspended by Juventus as a result.

The standard punishment for such an offence is a four-year ban and should that be applied then will likely spell the end of Pogba's career amongst the world's elite.

It is understood that Pogba accepts the test was positive but is expected to argue that the substance was mistakenly in his system.

The new hearing will now not take place before February 15, meaning Pogba wouldn't have played competitive football for nearly five-months.

Pogba, joined by his legal team, will appear in front of Italy's National Anti-Doping