Aoba Tanaka 
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba expressed his profound disappointment and heartbreak after receiving a four-year ban from football due to a doping offence. The 30-year-old French international, provisionally suspended since September, revealed elevated levels of testosterone in a random drug test following Juventus’ first match of the season on August 20.
In a statement, Pogba conveyed his emotions, stating, “I am sad, shocked, and heartbroken. Everything I have built in my professional career has been taken away from me.” The former Manchester United player emphasized his intention to appeal the decision, believing the verdict to be “incorrect.”
Pogba’s positive test results were confirmed by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) in a second sample in October, prompting the anti-doping prosecutor’s office to seek a four-year suspension. Juventus confirmed receiving notification of the ban from the anti-doping tribunal on Thursday morning.
Expressing his commitment to fair play, Pogba stated, “As a professional athlete, I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances.” He asserted his belief that the “full story will become clear” once he is free of legal restrictions.
The ban, backdated to the date of the failed test, implies that the talented midfielder, who played a crucial role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, will be sidelined until 2027, when he turns 34. Pogba plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, previously asserted that Pogba had no intention of breaking any rules. The doping violation centers around prohibited non-endogenous testosterone metabolites, substances not naturally produced by the body from testosterone, which were found in Pogba’s system.
The ban raises questions about the future trajectory of Pogba’s career and has sent shockwaves through the football community. As the football world absorbs this unexpected development, the appeal process and potential ramifications for Pogba’s legacy will be closely monitored.
