Testosterone is considered a performance-enhancing drug, and therefore footballers, such as Paul Pogba, are banned from using it, and understandably so. However, there are instances in which the substance can be a big benefit to the sport.
Earlier this week, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba was provisionally suspended after testing positive for the use of endogenous testosterone. As a result, the Frenchman could face a ban from football of up to four years. Now, it is important to consider the player's situation.
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Since leaving Manchester United and returning to Turin in 2022, his time at Juve has been plagued by injuries. In fact, the 30-year-old made only 10 appearances last season, accumulating a mere 161 minutes of game time. According to Transfermarkt, the France international had an array of injuries last term, included a hamstring issue, a tear in the abductor muscle, a groin strain, and a meniscal injury. He also underwent surgery to his knee. Try, for a moment, to empathise with a footballer who would most likely want nothing more than to run on to the pitch and play freely once again without the worry of picking up an injury, and you may understand why he decided to use testosterone to help him return to playing football more regularly.
The reason the substance has been banned by footballing authorities is because it is considered to boost the performance of players. Reports indicate that taking it would enhance the player's physical attributes related to muscular power as well as their concentration, and it is believed to influence certain aspects of cognition. And because the player's body did not produce the testosterone on its own, this is deemed an unnatural advantage.
Evidently, it would give players a clear edge on the pitch. But what if the athlete is consuming the hormone while he is sidelined, unable to take advantage of the physical benefits that come with it?
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If a player is battling an injury, it's obvious that he cannot participate in competitive matches so what unfair advantage would they have over an opponent if the competitive aspect of sports is taken out of the equation?
According to Male Excel, testosterone is a repair hormone that supports healing, recovery, remodelling and induces metabolic mechanisms involved in muscle tissue growth. It would also help players rebuild and strengthen affected muscles as part of their physical therapy plan after sustaining the injury.
Considering all of its healing benefits, the substance could aid the player in recovering quicker, as well as potentially save his club money.
A study conducted by insurance company Howden Broking revealed that the injury cost to 98 teams across the top five European leagues during the 2021/22 season amounted to a staggering £524 million (R12 billion), representing a 29% increase on the previous campaign.
So, the testosterone would not only help the player heal in a shorter time span, but would also contribute to slowing down what seems to be an injury epidemic in football.
You could, however, make the argument that the player could have an edge over his opponents when he's 100% fit again and back among the action.
Well... not necessarily.
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Various medical reports suggest that testosterone stays in the body for a period of roughly 40 days. If it's legal for everybody and the process of using it for injury recovery provided players are tested before being cleared to play is regulated by medical professionals – like the National Anti-Doping Court in Italy – footballers could make quicker returns to action and by the time they step on to the pitch again, they would have no testosterone in their bodies and therefore no clear edge over their opponents. A process that would benefit clubs' finances, the player, as well as the fans who would get to see their favourite footballers once again grace the field sooner rather than later.
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