Doping ban verdict incorrect, says Pogba
It’s looking more and more like Paul Pogba’s career is heading to a premature end.
Once one of the world’s top midfielders, Pogba has been banned for the maximum four years by Italy’s anti-doping court after the World Cup winner tested positive for testosterone while at Juventus.
Even though Pogba said he would appeal to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the verdict is unlikely to be overturned because the France international – who turns 31 next month – didn’t demonstrate any mitigating reasons for his failed test.
The positive result was announced in September, stemming from an exam that was carried out on August 20 after Juventus’ game at Udinese. Pogba did not play in the Serie A match but was on the bench.
Pogba said in a statement he believes “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,” Pogba said.
“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.’’
It could take a full year for a CAS verdict — at least that’s the typical timeline unless one party pushes for a fast-track process and the other side agrees to it.
Four-year bans are standard under the world anti-doping code but can be reduced in cases where an athlete can prove their doping was not intentional, if the positive test was a result of contamination or if they provide “substantial assistance” to help investigators.
Pogba was known for his versatility, physicality and eye for the goal. When he returned to Manchester United in 2016, the club paid Juventus a then world-record transfer fee of 105 million euros (NZ$186m).
Pogba rejoined Juventus in 2022 but struggled with injuries, playing in only six Serie A matches last season and two this season. He was ruled out of France’s run to the 2022 World Cup final due to a knee injury.
Pogba helped France win the previous World Cup, scoring in the 4-2 win over Croatia in the final. He played in 178 matches for Juventus from 2012 to 2016.
“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.