‘Devastated’ – Pogba Breaks Silence on Four-Year Ban

Following the announcement on Thursday that the Juventus player would face a four-year ban after being found guilty of doping, Paul Pogba has spoken out.

The French World Cup winner was slammed with a ban, it was revealed earlier on Thursday, following his initial failure of his ‘Sample B’ drug test in September 2023. At that time, it was discovered that the 30-year-old’s blood contained excessive amounts of testosterone. The four-year punishment was imposed following investigations in which Pogba’s entourage was unable to demonstrate that he was unaware of what he was putting into his system.

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Shortly after the decision was issued, the French midfield player expressed his disapproval of the finding in an Instagram post, calling it “incorrect” and pledging to file an appeal. He wrote: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect. 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.”

There is conjecture that the Frenchman’s extraordinary career may be coming to an end, as he turns 31 next month. Pogba, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, left Manchester United in the summer of 2022 and returned to Juventus. He has returned to Old Trafford in August 2016 for a fee of £89 million ($113 million). With 226 appearances across all competitions and 39 goals, Pogba was a key member of his former team’s winning squads in the Carabao Cup and Europa League.

But since returning to Turin, he has had a terrible run, playing in only 12 games over the course of two seasons for the Serie A powerhouses.

The former midfielder for Manchester United will have the chance to challenge the National Anti-Doping Tribunal’s ruling. It is likely that the ban will be upheld until the player and his party can provide new information about the elevated levels, though it may be lowered based on the defence that is put out to the prosecutors.