Paul Pogba, a midfielder for Juventus and France, has been banned from sport for four years due to a doping offence.
Pogba tested positive for testosterone, a drug that is prohibited, in September, and as a result, the Italian national anti-doping tribunal (NADO Italia) temporarily suspended him.
In December, Italian prosecutors asked for a maximum four-year ban.
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On August 20, 2023, following Juventus’ match against Udinese, Pogba tested positive for testosterone. He was on the bench for the game rather than participating.
In a statement, Pogba affirmed that he has never used prohibited substances and that he will appeal the decision 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.”
Pogba chose not to enter into a plea agreement with Italy’s anti-doping agency, so the matter was brought before the anti-doping court of that nation. The verdict was verified by an individual with firsthand knowledge of the case and shared with The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity because Italy’s privacy laws prevented the punishment from being made public.
As per the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes who can demonstrate that their doping was unintentional, or who provide “substantial assistance” to aid investigators, may have their usual four-year penalty shortened.
Pogba, 30, left Manchester United for a second time and joined Juventus again in 2022. He has been plagued by ailments ever since arriving back in Italy. For Juventus, he participated in 178 games between 2012 and 2016.
His knee injury prevented him from participating in France’s 2022 World Cup run.
Additionally, claims that Pogba was the target of extortionists, including his older brother Mathias, who has denied any wrongdoing, are the subject of an ongoing police investigation in France.
