According to Sky News, Paul Pogba, a former midfielder for Manchester United, has been suspended for four years due to a doping offense. This could mean the end of his elite career.
The Frenchman, who won a World Cup with Les Bleus during his prime in 2018, will turn 31 next month, so it’s possible that he could be close to 35 when he’s permitted to return to the field.
Following a positive test for testosterone in September, Pogba—who is currently under contract with Juventus—was placed on temporary suspension by the national anti-doping tribunal of his home country.
Tests were conducted following Juventus’s 3-0 season-opening victory at Udinese on August 20th, and the hormone that boosts endurance in athletes was found.
In the game, he was not deployed as a substitute.
In October, a counter-analysis conducted on a second sample verified Pogba’s positive test results.
Juventus remained silent, but according to a source, the team has been informed and will decide what to do next.
We’ve contacted Pogba’s reps to get their thoughts.
He returned to Juventus on a free transfer from Manchester United in 2022, however he has only made eight appearances due to injury.
Between 2012 and 2016, Pogba’s first stint at Juventus brought him praise for his accomplishments in both European and Italian league play.
Throughout the bulk of his 91 France appearances, especially during the nation’s 2018 World Cup campaign, he has also impressed.
Pogba’s second stint at United, where he made his debut as a young player before joining Juventus to play football for the first team, is generally seen as disappointing.
Pogba, who was signed for a then-record cost of more than £80 million, was a patchy performance for a dysfunctional United team that struggled in the years following Alex Ferguson’s departure.