Paul Pogba: 3 Possible Outcomes For Midfielder to Expect as He Plans to Appeal Football Ban

• On Thursday, Paul Pogba was slapped with a four-year ban from football over doping
• The midfielder is said to have tested positive for a banned substance in August 2022
• Pogba has since indicated his intention to lodge an appeal against the ban with CAS

France international, Paul Pogba, is set to appeal a decision made by the National Anti-Doping Tribunal (NADA) to hand him a four-year football ban after a failed drug test.

The midfielder is said to have tested positive for the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in August 2022 during Juventus' Serie A clash against Udinese.

According to Metro UK, the midfielder was subsequently suspended provisionally in September 2022, and a counter-analysis was requested.

However, the counter-analysis also came out positive, with anti-doping prosecutors recommending a four-year suspension for the Frenchman.

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The National Anti-Doping Tribunal announced Thursday that Pogba is now banned from football until September 2027 - a period of four years.

What Pogba can expect from his appeal

However, the 30-year-old has since declared his intent to appeal the decision.

In a statement released by Pogba, the former Manchester United ace maintained his innocence, describing the events leading to his suspension as 'shocking' and 'heartbreaking'.

"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 consequence of the decision announced today, I will appeal this [ban] before the Court of Arbitration for Sport," Pogba added.

Pogba can expect three outcomes from his intention to appeal his ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

Per SPORTbible, the three likely decisions include the ban being upheld, reduced, or even scrapped altogether.

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However, should the sanction be upheld by CAS, the ban will be back-dated to when the positive test was returned.

If this turns out to be the case, the World Cup winner will have to wait until August 2027 to be eligible to play again.

6 biggest doping scandals

Earlier, Sports Brief also ranked the biggest doping scandals in football history after Pogba's verdict and subsequent banning.

Football has stringent rules governing the substances players can use, ensuring fair competition is upheld through hard work.