Paul Pogba is banned from football for four years (Getty)
Paul Pogba says he is ‘shocked and heartbroken’ over his four-year ban from football for a doping offence and insists he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The World Cup winner tested positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a compound that promotes the production of hormones in the body, including testosterone, following Juventus’ 3-0 win over Udinese in Serie A last August.
Pogba was provisionally suspended in September and a counter-analysis was requested, however, that also came back positive.
Anti-doping prosecutors in Italy requested for the former Manchester United midfielder to be handed a four-year suspension – the maximum punishment allowed.
And The National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) announced on Thursday that Pogba is now banned from football for four years.
Paul Pogba remains Manchester United’s record signing at £89 million (Getty)
‘I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect,’ Pogba said in a statement.
‘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.
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‘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.’
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