Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years, leaving the athlete 'shocked and heartbroken'.
The 30-year-old Juventus player was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal after returning an adverse sample back in September 2023.
Pogba tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) - a banned substance that can raise testosterone - in a random drugs test following Juventus’ Serie A game against Udinese on August 20, for which he was an unused substitute.
“Juventus Football Club announces that today, September 11, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the results of tests carried out on August 20, 2023,” a statement from the Serie A side read at the time.
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“The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”
Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal added: “The National Antidoping Tribunal informs that, in acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Antidoping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete: Paul Labile Pogba (FIGC) for the violation of articles 2.1, 2.2; prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites (The GC/c/IRMS results are consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds).”
Now, Italian outlet Repubblica Sport has today (29 February) reported that Pogba has been banned for four years for doping violations.
The report states 'the prosecution did not believe the defense's version of accidental intake of the substance'.
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It added: "Pogba's lawyers rejected a plea deal, a move that would probably have at least halved the duration of the stoppage."
Fabrizio Romano also broke the news in a tweet, writing: "Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years due to doping."
However, Pogba took to Instagram earlier today to address the ban and insist it is 'incorrect', penning in a post: "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."
He went on: "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.
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"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."
The midfielder had previously claimed he'd been blackmailed by an organised crime gang, causing him to consider walking away from the sport.
His brother Mathias was detained in September 2022 on suspicion of being involved in the plot, which Pogba claimed was an attempt to extort £11.1 million from him.
Mathias was released in December and denies the allegations.
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LADbible has contact Juventas for a comment.
Anish Vij