Due to a doping offence, French midfielder Paul Pogba who is currently playing for Juventus F.C., has been handed a four-year ban.
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba was given a four-year sentence by Italy's national anti-doping tribunal in August following the discovery of testosterone levels in his urine that were not produced by nature. Pogba's career is likely to be ended if he serves out the entire ban.
Pogba, who turns 31 next month, was placed on temporary suspension in September after a random drug test revealed high testosterone levels after Juventus defeated Udinese 3-0 on August 20th, 2023. The preliminary results were validated in October by testing Pogba's B sample.
For doping offenses, the World Anti-Doping Code stipulates a two- to four-year penalty, contingent upon the evidence of the player's deliberate ingestion of the drug. The French international "never wanted to break a rule," according to Pogba's representative at the time of the first ban. On Thursday, Pogba said he will appeal the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping's decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect," Pogba said.
"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."
In a statement, Pogba affirmed that he has never used prohibited drugs and that he will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Because Pogba declined to enter into a plea agreement with Italy's anti-doping organization, the matter was heard by the anti-doping court in that nation. Because Italy's privacy regulations prevented the punishment from being made public, a source with intimate knowledge of the case confirmed the verdict to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity.
After spending two stints at Manchester United, Pogba, 30, came back to Juventus in 2022. Injury had plagued him since coming back to Italy. For Juventus between 2012 and 2016, he participated in 178 games.
A knee injury kept him from playing in France's 2022 World Cup run.
By scoring in the final 4-2 victory over Croatia, Pogba contributed to France's victory in the previous World Cup.
The World Anti-Doping Code stipulates that athletes faces four-year suspensions, although this can be shortened if they can demonstrate that their doping was accidental, if contamination caused the positive test, or if they offer "substantial assistance" to investigators.
Additionally, claims that Pogba was the victim of extortionists, including his elder brother Mathias, who has denied any involvement, are the subject of an ongoing police investigation in France.
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