France’s World Cup 2018-winning member Paul Pogba on February 29 (Thursday) faced a four-year ban due to doping. Pogba had tested positive for testosterone last year after Juventus's first clash of the season against Udinese.
Four years is the standard length of a ban under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA). The 30-year-old was provisionally suspended by Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) in September 2023. Thus, his four-year ban will end in August 2027.
The sentence is yet to be made public due to Italy's privacy laws as per Associated Press.
However, Pogba's ban can be reduced if he can prove that he consumed the banned substance unintentionally or it was a result of contamination. He can appeal the decision to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Pogba's response to ban
Pogba responded to the ban and said that the verdict is ‘incorrect’.
“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,” he said in the post.
“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,” he added.
In 2022, Pogba left Manchester United to rejoin Juventus. But, the midfielder struggled with injuries. He could feature in only eight Serie A matches in two seasons for Juventus. Later, he was ruled out of World Cup 2022 where defending champions France lost to Lionel Messi's Argentina in the final.
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