Paul Pogba: News of Ex Man United Star’s Four Year Ban Due to Doping Causes Stir Online

• Paul Pogba has been slapped with a four-year ban due to doping
• The ex-United star tested positive for high levels of testosterone
• If the decision is not overturned, Pogba will only return at age 34

Former Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, has been handed a four-year ban from football due to doping.

The 30-year-old, who is currently on the books of Juventus, was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after testing positive for testosterone metabolites following a match against Udinese on August 20 of the same year.

Pogba slapped with 4-year ban for doping

Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) has granted the request from the Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office for a standard four-year ban, following the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA).

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According to the BBC, the ban will commence from the date of Pogba's initial positive test, effectively restricting the French international from participating in any football-related activities until August 2027.

At the conclusion of the ban, the 2018 World Cup winner will be 34 years old, leaving uncertainties regarding the continuation of his professional career thereafter.

What's Pogba's next line of action?

As per reports from Sky in Italy, the ex-Manchester United player intends to challenge this ruling by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

However, if Pogba proceeds with his appeal to CAS, WADA is expected to counter-appeal. This could ultimately lead to a final decision being made by the Swiss courts.

How fans reacted to Pogba's ban

@daebreak01 wrote:

"Don’t feel sorry for him, he brought this to himself, he never took football seriously, tbh."

@ElChapmanoo appeared to share similar sentiments with @daebreak01 while labelling Pogba as 'waste':

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"Biggest waste of potential maybe ever, genuinely had such a high ceiling but threw everything away."

@AsieduMends also towed the 'wasted' path assertion in describing the 2018 World Cup winner's career:

"Smh this guy wasted his career."

@LorettaKrypto even urged the Frenchman to retire following the ban:

"4 years🙆🏼‍♀️? Let Pogba just retire. It’s been downhill since he left United."

@ukxsx added:

"Sad decline..one of the most talented players in history..sad he didn't live up to the full expectations."

Pogba among players whose careers nosedived

After news of Pogba's four-year suspension from football, Sports Brief examines players whose careers took unexpected paths after departing Manchester United.

His arrival at United in 2016 for a record-breaking £93 million fee didn't meet expectations during his six-year tenure, leading to him rejoining Juventus on a free transfer.

Apart from Pogba, the trajectories of Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, and several other prominent players took a downward turn after leaving the historic Old Trafford.