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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dom Smith

Paul Pogba banned from football for four years due to doping

Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years after he failed a drugs test last year.

The 30-year-old was initially suspended after tests showed elevated levels of testosterone in his system.

The World Cup winner has now been banned from football until 2028, effectively ending the midfielder's career just over two weeks before his 31st birthday.

Standard Sport understands Pogba intends to appeal and will fight to clear his name, believing that if he did take a banned substance he did so inadvertently.

Speaking at the time of the initial suspension, Pogba's agent Rafaela Pimenta said: "What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule."

The former Manchester United midfielder will turn 31 next month so, should his bad stand, he would not be able to return until he is almost 35.

Pogba was selected for random testing after Juventus’ 3-0 win at Udinese on August 20, when he had been an unused substitute.

Anti-doping body Nado Italia said he had violated rules when prohibited non-endogenous testosterone metabolites were found in the test.

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