Midfielder Paul Pogba is banned for four years for doping. The 30-year-old French player tested positive for synthetic testosterone, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
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The Italian Anti-Doping Court accepted the request of the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office and imposed the maximum penalty, according to the Italian press on Thursday (29).
Due to the case, Pogba was preventively suspended in September last year. The same result was confirmed in a counter test carried out in October. With the Italian court’s decision, he will have to serve his punishment until September 10, 2027.
On his social networks, Pogba declared himself innocent and announced that he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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“I was informed today of the decision of the National Anti-Doping Tribunal and I believe the verdict is incorrect. I am saddened, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken from me. When I am free from legal restrictions, the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements in violation of anti-doping regulations. As a professional athlete, I would never do anything to improve my performance using banned substances, and I have never disrespected or deceived fellow athletes and fans of any of the teams that I played for or against. As a consequence of the decision announced today, I will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport”, wrote the player.
With that, world champion with the France team in 2018, Pogba tested positive for the banned substance in a test carried out after the game between Udinese and Juventus, on August 20, 2023, for the Italian Championship. The midfielder did not enter the field on that occasion, but was selected for anti-doping testing.
According to the local press, Juventus would be prepared to terminate the player’s contract as soon as the suspension was confirmed. They have a contract until June 2026.
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