French footballer, Paul Pogba has broken his silence after receiving a four-year ban for doping.
He tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’ first game of the season and was given his punishment by an anti-doping prosecutor’s office in Italy on Thursday.
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, DHEA.
However, the prosecution did not believe Pogba’s defence, and he has now been given a ban that could potentially end his career.
He said: ‘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’s suspension completes a dramatic fall from grace for a player who was once the most expensive footballer in the world.
After coming through United’s academy, Pogba moved to Juventus on a free transfer in 2012 and proceeded to win four straight Serie A titles.
He returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for a world-record fee of £89m.
Pogba won the World Cup with France two years later, scoring in the final against Croatia, but struggled to hit the same heights at club level.
During his six years back in England, Pogba won the Europa League and League Cup with United, but failed to turn them into Premier League title contenders.
He left the 13-time Premier League champions on a free transfer for the second time in 2022 to go back to Juventus as he aimed to resurrect his career.
Pogba started just one game all season after being sidelined with knee, groin and hamstring problems.
He was named on the bench for their opening match of the 2023-24 season, but was an unused substitute in their 3-0 win at Udinese.
Following that match, he returned a test that has led to him receiving a four-year ban.
The substance found in his system was DHEA, which can naturally boost levels of testosterone.
Pogba requested for his B-sample to be tested, but this also came back positive in October, leading to Juventus contemplating terminating his contract.