Paul Pogba given huge doping ban to effectively end World Cup winner's career
Paul Pogba has been banned from football for FOUR YEARS for doping.
The former Manchester United midfielder, now with Italian giants Juventus, was provisionally suspended in September after failing a drugs test. Pogba, who will turn 31 in March, was an unused substitute against Udinese on 20 August when he tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance that boosts endogenous testosterone. A secondary sample was then counter-analysed, which also returned a positive result.
Pogba and his camp have always maintained that the taking of any prohibited substance was never intentional. His lawyers had rejected a plea deal after claiming he had unwittingly ingested the drug via a supplement, thus causing the positive test. However, prosecutors did not believe Pogba's defence, and the National Anti-Doping Tribunal has now handed Pogba the maximum punishment possible.
The France international has announced his intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In a statement he said: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping's decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.
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"I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.
"As a professional athlete I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and have never disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the teams I have played for, or against.
"As a consequence of the decision announced today I will appeal this before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
Paul Pogba has not played for Juventus since last September (Getty Images)Was Paul Pogba a success or a failure at Man United? Share your thoughts in the comments below
DHEA is classed as an anabolic androgenic steroid and Pogba’s lawyers had pointed to previous cases where athletes had claimed to have unwittingly ingested the drug via a supplement - but to no avail.
Speaking at the time of the initial suspension, Pogba's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said: "What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule."
Pogba will be just shy of his 34th birthday when he is able to play again, in August 2027. Juventus are set to cancel his contract, having put him on the lowest possible wage since his initial suspension and his career lies in tatters even as the situation escalates through the courts.
Paul Pogba will appeal to the CAS (Emilio Andreoli)The Frenchman - who won the World Cup with his nation in 2018 - returned to Turin in 2022 on a free transfer from Manchester United. His first season was constantly disrupted by injury, while he made just two appearances this season before being suspended.
His international career now also looks all but over. Pogba had earned 91 caps for his nation - the last coming in 2022 - and scored 11 goals. He won the World Cup in 2018 in Russia, emerging as one of the players' of the tournament.
Speaking in December, France boss Didier Deschamps said: "I love all my players, but I'm sad about what Paul is living. I'm not just talking about the most recent events, but also about everything he has experienced so far, with the personal problems that have inevitably had consequences on his injuries. I feel bad for Pogba: how can he do it?"
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Ahead of his return to Juve, Pogba spent a rollercoaster six years in Manchester, having arrived back at Old Trafford in a then-world record £89m move in 2016. He made 226 appearances, scoring 39 goals, but never quite hit the heights expected.
Should Pogba go ahead to the CAS then the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will appeal against that. A final judgement will likely end up at the Swiss courts.
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