By Lukanyo Tshitshi
Paul Pogba, the 30 year-old French midfielder and Juventus attacking midfielder. image credit: Getty images
The once-world’s record transfer of £89 million from Juventus to Manchester United in 2016, Paul Pogba, seems to be having a hazy future in football as he is anticipated to be in and out of the courtroom.
The French international football star issued a statement on Instagram announcing that he is going to appeal the four-year ban against him before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne.
The 30-year-old French midfielder was handed a four-year suspension from all football activities by the Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office and the Italian national anti-doping organisation (NADO Italia) on February 29, 2024, six months after he was provisionally suspended for testing positive for a banned doping substance, DHEA.
In a statement issued by the football star, Pogba said he is going to oppose the decision first, then clear up the full story when he is “free of legal restrictions.”
"I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping's decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect," the statement read.
"I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.
"When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.
"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.
"As a consequence of the decision announced today, I will appeal this before the Court of Arbitration for Sport."
According to the BBC Sport report, the Italian football journalist Julian Laurens said Pogba might have reportedly consumed the substance through food supplements supplied by his friend-doctor.
"The story being told is he's got a friend who is a doctor in Miami that gave him some food supplements which he took not knowing what's in them and that's what caused all of this,” he said.
Pogba being confidently sure that he has a chance to overturn the ruling or see the suspension reduced would be nothing new in the sport fraternity, as there is a recent similar incident where the doping suspension of an athlete has been reduced from four years to nine months.
According to Italian football expert Mina Rzouki, Pogba’s suspension can be reduced only if he (Pogba) can successfully prove the unintentional use of the doping substance.
"His sentence can be reduced if an athlete can prove their doping was not intentional or their samples were contaminated - or if the player provides substantial assistance to help the investigators.
"So, it's hinging on whether not he can prove this was unintentional and then there is potential we could see the ban reduced to two years which may mean he could make a comeback,” he said.
Pogba is currently under a 5-year contract with Juventus that runs until June 2026, meaning that should his appeal be rejected, he will return as a free agent when his suspension is abrogated in 2027.
Juventus are yet to issue a statement regarding the Pogba saga. According to the Italian football writer James Horncastle, the club is assessing the matter and waiting for the final decision.
"Juventus have not put out a statement. Their sporting director, when he was last asked, said they'd await the final outcome of the process.
"There's still an appeal to go to CAS. Until that is exhausted, we'll not have an official statement from Juventus on what actions they can take,” he said.
Comments