Paul Pogba: It’s that drug testosterone again; could end French international’s career after doping positive

He was then provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone, a hormone that increases athletes’ endurance.

🚨🇫🇷 BREAKING: Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years due to doping. pic.twitter.com/1BsdRmijOq

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 29, 2024

The 30-year-old’s positive doping test was also confirmed in a counter-analysis on a second sample in October.

Later in the day, the player took to Instagram and responded to the ban, terming it ‘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.

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A post shared by Paul Labile Pogba (@paulpogba)

It’s another negative note for a player whose has been blighted by injuries ever since rejoining Juventus from Manchester United in 2022. He was ruled out of France’s run to the 2022 World Cup final due to a knee injury and played in only six Serie A matches for Juventus in the same year.

There’s also been a police investigation ongoing in France into allegations that Pogba was targeted by extortionists — including by his older brother, Mathias, who has denied any wrongdoing.

The latest blow to Juventus follows the 2022 season being marred by inquiries into false accounting and irregular reporting of salary payments. The legal cases resulted in the Turin club being removed by UEFA from European competition this season.

Having started his career at United and then gone to Juventus and back to Manchester, Pogba was known for his versatility, physicality and eye for the goal.

When he returned to United in 2016, the Manchester club paid Juventus a then world-record transfer fee of 105 million euros ($113 million).

He played for the English giants for 7 years, notching up 233 appearances and scoring 39 goals along with 51 assists. Ironically, his last club level trophy would also come with the Old Trafford outfit when he won the Europa League with them in the 2016/17 season.