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Paul Pogba
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Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto/Getty Images
French Juventus footballer Paul Pogba has received a four-year ban for doping.
This was reported by several media outlets, including the Associated Press news agency and the Italian newspaper “la Repubblica”.
Accordingly, the Italian anti-doping prosecutor's request to impose the maximum penalty on Pogba was approved.
The 30-year-old midfielder still has the opportunity to appeal.
In August last year, Pogba tested positive for testosterone after a Serie A game against Udinese and was subsequently provisionally suspended.
The sex hormone helps build muscle mass and can therefore have a performance-enhancing effect.
At the time, Pogba stated that he had simply taken a nutritional supplement and did not know that he was violating doping guidelines.
Does the ban already mean the end of Pogba's career?
Pogba, who had already played in Turin from 2012 to 2016, only returned to the Italian record champions in 2022.
He previously spent six years at Manchester United.
At the end of the suspension, Pogba will be almost 35 years old.
If the ruling stands, the career of the highly talented midfielder, who was one of the most important players in France's World Cup winning team in 2018, could come to a sudden end.
Pogba's current contract with Juventus runs until 2026.
Things have been going badly for Pogba since his return to Juventus.
Due to knee surgery and other injuries, he has only made twelve appearances in competitive games since 2022, where he at least managed one assist.
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