Ex- Manchester United star Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years for doping.
The midfielder was initially suspended in September after failing a drugs test while with the Italian giants. A secondary sample was then counter-analysed, which also returned a positive result for DHEA.
The National Anti-Doping Tribunal was to decide on a punishment and it has now been confirmed that Pogba will now not be able to play until at least 2028. It is the maximum ban that a player could have received.
The ban means that Pogba could potentially be 35 by the time he is able to play again. Pogba's contract with current employers Juventus is set to run until the summer of 2026 and he will now never play for the side again. His second stint with the club has been a disaster.
The Frenchman - who won the World Cup with his nation in 2018 - returned to Turin in 2022 on a free transfer from Manchester United. His first season was constantly disrupted by injury, while he made just two appearances this season before being suspended.
His international career now also looks all but over. Pogba had earned 91 caps for his nation - the last coming in 2022 - and scored 11 goals. He won the nation's second World Cup crown during the 2018 edition in Russia.
Speaking in December, France boss Didier Deschamps said: "I love all my players, but I'm sad about what Paul is living. I'm not just talking about the most recent events, but also about everything he has experienced so far, with the personal problems that have inevitably had consequences on his injuries. I feel bad for Pogba: how can he do it?"
Elsewhere, speaking before the second sample was tested, Pogba's representative Rafaela Pimenta said: "We are waiting for the counter-analysis and until then we can't say anything. The certain thing is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules."
www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-paul-pogba-banned-doping-32240168
