Former Manchester United star, Paul Pogba has given an update after he was handed a four-year doping ban from football in February.
Pogba, 30, had tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following Juventus’ opening game of the 2023-24 season, a game in which he was an unused substitute.
He was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after failing a drug test. The former France World Cup winner was then handed the ban that could potentially end his career by an anti-doping prosecutor’s office in Italy.
“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me,” Pogba said in a statement on Thursday.
“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.
However, Pogba said he felt the ‘verdict is incorrect’ and that he was ‘sad, shocked and heartbroken’ by the decision.
The French midfielder noted that, the recent months had been ‘difficult’, but insisted that he was ‘looking forward’ to appealing his suspension.
Reflecting on how the sanction has impacted his life, the Juventus midfielder told Forbes; ‘It’s difficult to be totally honest2Football has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
‘However, I have my family, my faith, my friends, and my fans who have supported me, which makes things easier. All will be well. Although I can’t speak so much about this, all roads lead to the appeal date. Until then, my focus is on staying fit and looking forward to the appeal”. he told Forbes.
