French World Cup winner and Juventus midfielder, Paul Pogba, has been handed a four-year ban from football due to doping violations. The punishment effectively marks the end of Pogba’s illustrious career in professional football as he approaches his 31st birthday in March.
Pogba, who has been under suspension since last September, was subjected to testing in August, which revealed elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone known to enhance athletes’ endurance. The tribunal overseeing the case concluded that Pogba had breached anti-doping regulations upon finding prohibited substances, specifically “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites,” in his test results.
The severity of the offence has led to the imposition of a four-year ban on Pogba, a sanction considered among the most stringent in cases of doping violations. This decision comes following the examination of a second test sample, confirming the initial findings and resulting in the enforcement of the significant penalty.
The ban represents a major setback for Pogba, who has enjoyed a successful career at top clubs such as Manchester United and Juventus, as well as achieving international glory with the French national team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.