Pogba handed four-year ban from football for doping

ByEurosport

Updated 29/02/2024 at 13:16 GMT

Paul Pogba has been given a four-year ban from football for doping, according to a report. Pogba, now of Juventus and formerly of Manchester United, will be unable to play competitively until 2027, by which time he will be nearly 34. Pogba failed an initial test in August 2023 for the compound DHEA, with his B sample also coming back positive.

Paul Pogba.

Image credit: Getty Images

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has reportedly been handed a four-year ban from football for doping by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado).

His B sample then also came back positive, and now comes the news – as reported by La Repubblica – that he will be banned until 2027, with the ban starting from the date of the failed test.

France international Pogba will be nearly 34 by the time he is permitted to return to competitive football.

Pogba was provisionally suspended in September after elevated levels of testosterone were found in a random test following Juventus’ 3-0 win over Udinese on the opening day of the 2023/24 season.

Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said at the time of the initial suspension: “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.”

Pogba has made just two appearances for Juventus this season, both from the bench.

It is now uncertain what the future holds for the 2018 World Cup winner.

He returned to Juventus for a second spell in the summer of 2022 after his contract with Manchester United expired.

But a series of injuries saw him miss the 2022 World Cup with France and make just one start for Juventus in the 2022/23 season.

Juventus are yet to comment on Pogba’s ban but when he joined in 2022, the midfielder signed a four-year deal with the club.

Pogba was signed for a then world-record fee of £89m by Manchester United in 2016.

Jose Mourinho, who was Manchester United manager at the time, said Pogba had the “chance to be at the heart of this club for the next decade and beyond”.

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