Pogba ‘banned from football for FOUR YEARS for doping’ – seemingly ending career
1-1 minutes
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has reportedly been handed a four-year ban from football after failing a drugs test last August.
The 30-year-old tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’s first game of the season against Udinese, and was given his hefty punishment by an anti-doping prosecutor’s office in Italy on Thursday, as reported by La Repubblica.
Pogba’s lawyers had rejected a plea deal and hoped to get their client a lighter sentence after claiming that he had accidentally ingested the substance that caused the positive test.
However, the prosecution did not believe Pogba’s defence, and he has now been given a ban that could potentially end his career.
Pogba will turn 31 next month, meaning he would not be able to return to the pitch until he is almost 35.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was handed a four-year ban after a failed drugs test back in August.
The 30-year-old tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’ opening game of the season against Udinese, and has now been received a hefty punishment as reported by La Repubblica.
Pogba’s lawyers had rejected a plea deal and hoped to get their client a lighter sentence after claiming he had accidentally ingested the substance that caused the positive test.
The attempted defence was unsuccessful, and now Pogba faces a ban that could see the end of his professional footballing career. He will turn 31 next month with the ban extending until he is 35.
Mail Sport breaksdown the substance that led to the positive test and it’s affects.
So what is DHEA?
It was reported shortly after the positive test that the World Cup winner actually had a banned substance in his system as opposed to just receiving testosterone.
That substance was Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a supplement that is said to naturally boost testosterone production.
The substance is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list, carrying with it a maximum of four years if taken deliberately to enhance an athletes performance.
The drug is classed as an anabolic androgenic steroid, a class of hormones widely abused for their muscle-building and strength-increasing properties, According to the NHS.
Despite it’s classification DHEA is not a banned substance in the United States of America among other nations and can be found in a number of supplements.
Has anyone been banned for it before?
The UFC’s Bobby Green received a much lesser ban for the use of DHEA by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
In 2022 the lightweight was handed a six-month ban after testing positive for the substance.
His sentence was reduced by USADA due to his cooperation and a small amount of the performance enhancement substance being found.
The American fighter accepted responsibility for actions and said he did not realise that DHEA was a banned substance after seeing a video for it on YouTube and started taking the supplement after his wife bought it from a Supermarket.
Paul Pogba ‘sad, shocked and heartbroken’ after being banned for doping
Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba said he was “sad, shocked and heartbroken” after being banned from football for a doping offence.
The former Manchester United player was on Thursday handed a four-year ban, according to reports in Italy.
The 30-year-old was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone following Juve’s Serie A match with Udinese on August 20, where he was an unused substitute.
And, after the failed test was confirmed by Italian anti-doping body Nado in a second sample in October, the four-year suspension requested by the prosecutor’s office has now reportedly been granted.
France v Croatia – FIFA World Cup 2018 – Final – Luzhniki Stadium
Pogba has responded by issuing a statement on social media saying he has “never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations”.
He also said he will be lodging an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban.
He said on Instagram: “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.
“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.”
Pogba became the world’s most expensive footballer when he moved to Manchester United from Juve for £89million in 2016, before rejoining the Italian giants on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.
The 2018 World Cup-winner has featured only sparingly since returning to Turin after a number of injury setbacks, making six Serie A appearances last season and two this term.
