Paul Pogba has vowed to fight a four-year doping ban that threatens to signal the end of his playing career.
In a week that started with Pogba sharing dinner with high-profile celebrities Idris Elba, Trevor Noah and Tommy Fury in Dubai, the France World Cup winner was on Thursday facing up to the possibility of never playing football again.
The 30-year-old tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance that boosts testosterone, after featuring in the opening game of this season against Udinese on August 20.
Sources close to the situation have told Mail Sport that the positive test relates to a set of pills prescribed to Pogba by a US doctor.
The tablets were prescribed to the former Manchester United star at the end of November 2022.
Pogba was instructed to take the supplements, made by a US firm, after blood tests identified certain deficiencies in his body.
It is understood the fact he was advised to take the tablets on medical advice has formed the basis of Pogba’s defence in his efforts to avoid a lengthy ban.
Pogba released a low-key statement yesterday in which he confirmed he would now take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, despite the seemingly composed nature of his comments, Pogba was said to be irate at the length of the ban, the maximum penalty Italy’s anti doping court can impose, amid a belief the punishment is disproportionate with precedent.
In 2022, UFC fighter Bobby Green received a six month ban from the United States Anti-Doping agency after testing positive DHEA.
In 2018 the Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, of Cagliari, faced a four-year ban after testing positive for a diuretic. Pedro insisted he had unwittingly consumed contaminated food supplements and eventually saw his suspension cut to six-months.
Pogba requested for his B-sample to be tested but this also came back positive in October, leading to Juventus contemplating terminating his contract.
He was adamant from the start that he had no idea how the substance had got into his system and that he had not been looking to gain a sporting advantage.
‘I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect,’ Pogba’s statement read.
‘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’s club Juventus are not commenting on the matter. Pogba joined the Turin club in the summer of 2022 but has made just one Serie A start in that time due to injury and his suspension.
It remains to be seen whether Juve look to release Pogba from his the remaining two-and-a-half year contract, with current indications being that they are exploring that option.
Pogba’s lawyers had rejected a plea deal in hope of securing their client a lighter sentence after claiming that he had accidentally ingested the substance that caused the positive test.
The Frenchman, who spends much of his time in the Middle East, is not said to be contemplating a future without playing again and is focusing his attention on his CAS appeal.
If Pogba fails to get his ban overturned or reduced, he will be almost 35 by the time his suspension elapses.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
