Paul Pogba banned for four years for doping, reports Italian media

The France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been handed a four-year ban from football for a doping offence.

Pogba was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping body, Nado Italia, at a tribunal in September last year. The 30-year-old tested positive for testosterone – a banned substance – after Juve’s 3-0 league win at Udinese on August 20th, with a B sample confirming the positive result in October.

A Juventus spokesman said that “this morning we received the notice from the anti-doping agency that [Pogba] has been disqualified for four years”. Pogba, whose club contract runs until 2026, has confirmed he will appeal to the court of arbitration over what he called an “incorrect” verdict.

“I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe the verdict is incorrect,” Pogba wrote on Instagram. “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,” the 2018 World Cup winner added.

“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.” - Guardian