In a shocking turn of events, former Manchester United star Paul Pogba faces a potential career-ending blow as he receives a four-year ban from football for doping. The ban, stemming from a failed drug test last August, puts Pogba's future in jeopardy.
The events leading to Pogba's four-year ban, include the failed drugs test during Juventus’ opening day match against Udinese on August 20 and the subsequent legal developments that followed, ultimately resulting in the punishment delivered by an anti-doping prosecutor’s office in Italy on Thursday.
Pogba will be turning 31 next month, and he is planning on appealing against the verdict. But, if the appeal is not successful, he will have to wait until the age of 35 till he can make a return in 2028.
The France international’s lawyers hoped their client was given a lighter sentence after they claimed that Pogba may have accidentally ingested the substance that caused the positive test.
The prosecution expressed doubts over the defence, and hence provided the judgement. Pogba later confirmed that he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He took to Instagram, releasing a statement, saying:
"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."
Pogba came through the ranks at the United academy, but moved to Juventus on a free transfer in 2012 and he won four consecutive Serie A titles, which led to United, again, securing his services for a then world-record fee of £89 million in 2016.
Becoming the most expensive player at Manchester United, Pogba won the Europa League and the League Cup in his six-year stint at Old Trafford.
He also secured the World Cup in 2018 for France, scoring in the final against Croatia.
The following years saw him struggling to hit the same heights of the initial years. His second spell at Juventus has proved to be a disaster since moving away from the Premier League in 2022.
The substance found in his system was DHEA, an anabolic androgenic steroid, which naturally boosts levels of testosterone.
After the first sample tested positive, the 30-year-old requested his B-sample to be examined, but that too came back as positive in October, which prompted Juventus to contemplate terminating his contract.
From the onset, Pogba staunchly maintained his innocence, asserting that he had no knowledge of how the substance infiltrated his system. Moreover, he emphasized that his intent was never to seek a competitive edge.
Despite plans to appeal, the World Cup winner finds himself at a crossroads in a once-promising career.