In a stunning turn of events, former Manchester United and Juventus star Paul Pogba has been slapped with a four-year ban from football after testing positive for a banned substance.
The 30-year-old French midfielder, who won the World Cup in 2018, was found to have elevated levels of testosterone in his system following a random drug test conducted after a Serie A match between Juventus and Udinese on August 20, 2023.
Pogba, who re-joined Juventus on a free transfer in July 2022 after his contract expired at Manchester United, had been struggling with persistent injuries that limited his playing time and performance. He had also been involved in a blackmail scandal that allegedly involved his brother Mathias and an organized crime gang.
Pogba’s lawyers had claimed that the doping violation was due to an accidental intake of the substance, but the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal rejected their defense and imposed the maximum penalty of four years. This effectively ends Pogba’s career, as he will be 35 by the time he is eligible to play again.
Pogba’s ban is one of the most severe punishments ever handed out to a footballer for doping, and casts a dark shadow over his legacy and achievements. He is the second high-profile player to be banned for doping in recent years, following former Arsenal and Chile striker Alexis Sanchez, who received a three-year ban in 2022.
Pogba has not yet commented on the verdict, but his former teammates and fans have expressed their shock and disappointment on social media. Some have also questioned the reliability and fairness of the anti-doping system, and called for more transparency and accountability.
Pogba’s ban is a huge blow for Juventus, who had hoped to build their team around him and challenge for domestic and European titles. The club will also face financial losses, as they will have to pay Pogba’s wages until his contract expires in 2026, unless they can terminate it by mutual consent or legal action.
Juventus are currently fourth in Serie A, 10 points behind leaders Inter Milan, and have been knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the last 16. They will face Napoli in the Coppa Italia final on May 9.
