The soccer career of Paul Pogba is on the brink of ending. Fitness issues have currently sidelined the French midfielder, and he hasn’t featured much for his club, Juventus, in the 2023/24 Serie A season. But a shocking revelation about the 30-year-old has made things even worse for him.
Anti-doping prosecutors, NADO Italia have requested a 4-year ban for Pogba, after finding the French midfielder guilty of doping. Allegedly, his test sample contained traces of Testosterone, a hormone that enhances performance in athletes.
🚨 The anti-doping prosecution has requested a four-year ban from football for Paul Pogba following his positive drugs test!
(Source: @Gazzetta_it) pic.twitter.com/ax7fd4u8nY
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 7, 2023
The test results came after Juventus’ 3-0 over Serie A side Udinese on August 20, 2023, where he was an unused substitute. The anti-doping agency had provisionally banned Pogba from playing soccer. The Anti-Doping agency gave the French midfielder three days to provide a counter-analysis for the test.
His agent Rafaela Pimenta has commented on this after the provisional suspension (via Tuttojuve), “Pogba? We are working on an appeal, as a lawyer I know that it is a topic that must be treated on a legal level, but I always have hope. I will always be close to Paul, he is part of my life, and I’m grateful for the way he treats me and the respect he gives us.”
The Anti-doping agency has now proposed the 4-year suspension of the ex-Manchester United player. Pogba had earlier declined to appeal against the anti-doping agency. The World Anti-Doping Code mandates a 4-year suspension of players found guilty of doping. Pogba can only reduce the suspension if he proves his doping wasn’t intentional.
Paul Pogba has had a forgettable return to Juventus
Soccer fans expected that Paul Pogba would be able to resurrect his career following a disappointing stint at Manchester United. But his fitness and especially the disciplinary issues mean that Paul Pogba is now a shadow of his former self.
Pogba has only featured twice for the Bianconeri in the 2023-24 season. He has had problems with his knee and has strained his hamstring several times. The French midfielder has only started 51 games since 2019, due to injuries. In 2022, a gang of robbers broke into Pogba’s house in Manchester while he was playing against Atletico Madrid in a UCL knockout game.
Paul Pogba was one of the most technically gifted players of all time. pic.twitter.com/6XbBFt4TY6
— ‘ (@TheShowtimeReds) December 1, 2023
Such battles have taken a huge toll on his mental health. The midfielder has hinted at retiring from soccer after he agreed to not being able to take criticisms anymore. In an interview given to Al-Jazeera, Pogba said, Sometimes, I don’t want to have money anymore. I just don’t want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me – not for the fame, not for the money. Sometimes it’s tough.”
The decline of Paul Pogba is surely very saddening to see. What once was a world-class player is now on the verge of calling it all quits at the young age of 30.
