Paul Pogba, a midfielder for France and Juventus, expressed feeling sad, shocked, and heartbroken regarding the four-year ban from football for a doping violation that could mark the end of his career.
Pogba, who will be close to the age of 35 by the time the ban is lifted, announced his plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding an alleged incorrect ruling. He also claimed that the true situation has not been fully revealed.
The World Cup winner was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping body, Nado Italia, at a tribunal in September last year. Pogba tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – a banned substance that can raise testosterone – after Juventus’s 3-0 league win at Udinese on 20 August, and a B sample confirmed the positive result in October.
A representative of Juventus informed the Guardian that they were notified by the anti-doping agency that [Pogba] has been banned for four years. Pogba, who will turn 31 in March, is under contract until 2026.
I received notification from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal today and I disagree with their decision. I feel disappointed, surprised, and devastated that my hard work and achievements in my career as a professional player have been invalidated.
Once I am no longer bound by legal limitations, all details will be disclosed. However, I can confirm that I have never intentionally consumed any substances that are prohibited by anti-doping laws.
“As a professional athlete, I uphold integrity and would never resort to using prohibited substances to improve my performance. I have always treated my fellow athletes and supporters with the utmost respect and have never engaged in any form of cheating. In response to the recent ruling, I will be appealing to the court of arbitration for sport.”
Pogba has had a difficult second stint with Juventus after rejoining the team in Italy as a free agent from Manchester United in 2022. Due to injuries to his knee and hamstring, he has only played in 12 games. In 2016, he had left Juventus for United, his former club where he started in the youth academy and made his debut, for a record-breaking fee of €110m (£93.2m).
Nado Italia stated that they cannot comment on the matter due to Italian privacy regulations.
Source: theguardian.com
