Paul Pogba banned for four years following failed drug test

Paul Pogba banned for four years for doping offense, plans to appeal.

Paul Pogba's career is on a downward spiral following another bashing in the form of a doing ban, can he bounce back from this? (Photo credit: GOAL)

When it rains, it pours. Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years for a doping offense. 

The Juventus midfielder was initially suspended by Italy's national anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone, a banned substance. In December, Italian prosecutors recommended banning the Frenchman for a maximum of four years. 

The 2018 World Cup winner tested positive for testosterone after Juventus' game against Udinese on August 20, 2023. He did not play in the match, but he was on the bench. In a statement, Pogba confirmed he will appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and insisted he has never taken banned substances. 

 Pogba said he was informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping's decision today and 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.

"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."

Italy's anti-doping court tried the case after Pogba chose not to make a plea bargain with the country's anti-doping agency. Someone with direct knowledge of the case confirmed the verdict to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to Italy's privacy laws keeping the sentence from being made public.

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, 30, returned to Juventus in 2022 after his second stint at Premier League side Manchester United. Since his return to Italy, he has been hampered by injuries. He played in 178 matches for Juventus from 2012 to '16.

 A knee injury ruled him out of France's run to the World Cup final in 2022.

Pogba helped France win the previous World Cup, scoring in the 4-2 win over Croatia in the final.

There has also been an ongoing police investigation in France into allegations that the French superstar was the subject of extortions from close friends and associates, including his older brother Mathias, who has denied any wrongdoing.