JUVENTUS midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years for a doping offence.
The 30-year-old former Manchester United star was provisionally suspended in September after a drugs test found elevated levels of testosterone in his system.
Testosterone is a hormone that increases the endurance of athletes.
The France international was randomly tested after Juventus’ first match of the season on August 20 and his sample was later found to contain banned substances.
According to reports, Pogba will appeal against Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal’s (NADO) decision.
The failed drugs test was confirmed by NADO in a second sample in October, and the anti-doping prosecutor’s office had requested a four-year suspension.
With the verdict, Pogba will not be able to play professional football again until 2027, when he will be 33, with the ban backdated to the date of the failed test.
At the time of the initial suspension, Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, had said: “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.”
Pogba began his youth football career in his native France but has only played at professional level for Juventus and Manchester United.
He has had two spells at both clubs, first leaving Manchester United for Juventus in 2011 only to return for a then world record transfer fee of £89m in 2016. He left for Juventus again in 2022.
