French national soccer player and 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba is facing the end of his career after a positive doping test. The 30-year-old Juventus midfielder was banned for four years by the responsible sports court. The ban also applies to other international leagues. According to information from the TV channel Sky Italia, the Frenchman is determined to appeal the verdict.
“I was informed of the decision today and believe that the verdict is wrong. I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built up in my professional career has been taken away from me,” Pogba wrote on Instagram. “As a professional athlete, I would never do anything to improve my performance by using banned substances.”
Pogba tested positive for testosterone in August 2023 after a game in the Italian Serie A between Turin and Udinese Calcio. The B sample confirmed the result.
The Italian anti-doping court followed the prosecutor’s request in terms of punishment. Pogba tested positive for testosterone and was provisionally suspended on September 11th. Pogba’s entourage said that the positive test was probably due to a dietary supplement that had been prescribed to him by a doctor in the USA. In an initial reaction, Juventus Turin said it had taken note of the court’s decision.
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The 81-time French international has been back under contract with the Italian record champions since July 2022, for whom he played from 2012 to 2016. In fact, he has only been on the pitch occasionally since then. He was also not used in the game against Udine.
Former record transfer
For Pogba, the sports court’s ruling continues the downfall of his career. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia he impressed as a dynamic and technically adept driver. In the 4-2 final against Croatia, he made the preliminary decision with his goal to make it 3-1. Two years earlier, Pogba moved from Turin to Manchester United for a then record transfer fee of 105 million euros.
With his return to Italy in 2022, Pogba wanted to try a fresh start. However, the world champion repeatedly had injury problems. The Frenchman’s contract runs until 2026. It is unclear whether he will come back after the ban.
French national soccer player and 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba is facing the end of his career after a positive doping test. The 30-year-old Juventus midfielder was banned for four years by the responsible sports court. The ban also applies to other international leagues. According to information from the TV channel Sky Italia, the Frenchman is determined to appeal the verdict.
“I was informed of the decision today and believe that the verdict is wrong. I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built up in my professional career has been taken away from me,” Pogba wrote on Instagram. “As a professional athlete, I would never do anything to improve my performance by using banned substances.”