Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has expressed profound sadness, shock, and heartbreak following his four-year ban from football due to a doping offense.
The 30-year-old France international received a provisional suspension in September after a routine drugs test revealed heightened levels of testosterone in his system.
In a statement, Pogba lamented, “Everything I have built in my professional career has been taken away from me.”
“When I am free of legal restrictions, the full story will become clear,” he said.
The former Manchester United player asserted his intention to appeal the ban, emphasizing his disbelief in the verdict’s accuracy.
Pogba underwent a random drug test following Juventus’ season opener on August 20. The positive test was confirmed by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal in a subsequent sample in October, prompting the anti-doping prosecutor’s office to seek a four-year suspension.
Juventus confirmed receipt of notification from the anti-doping tribunal on Thursday morning.
Pogba vehemently denied any intentional doping, expressing his commitment to fair play and respect for fellow athletes and supporters.
“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,” he said
The ban, retroactively applied to the date of the failed test, effectively sidelines Pogba until 2027, when he will be 33 years old.
Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, asserted during the initial suspension that Pogba had never intended to violate any rules.
Testosterone, known for enhancing athletes’ endurance, was cited by Nado as the substance for which Pogba tested positive.
Pogba’s intricate contract details revealed substantial earnings and bonuses during his time at Manchester United, including a lucrative image rights deal. His return to Juventus in 2022 followed his departure from Manchester United as a free agent.
Persistent injury setbacks have marred Pogba’s return to Juventus, with limited playing time and missed appearances in major tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This season, Pogba’s contributions have been minimal, clocking only 51 minutes as a substitute in two games against Bologna and Empoli. Last season, he accumulated a total of 162 minutes across various competitions, registering no goals.
