Paul Pogba: Ex-£90m Man Utd star dealt four-year ban over doping offence that could end football career

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been dealt a four-year ban from professional football after being found guilty of doping offences.

Two spells at the Red Devils ended with the Frenchman joining Serie A club Juventus on a free transfer. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the 30-year-old was hailed as a promising academy player but a lack of first-team football caused frustration. Juventus took a punt on Pogba and developed him into one of Europe's most sought-after stars. This led United to buy him back in 2019 for a world-record £90million fee.

Fans hoped the signing would restore United on the world stage but inconsistency plagued his return to Old Trafford. Pogba spent six years at the club during his second spell, winning the Europa League and Carabao Cup. While at Man United, he also clinched a historic World Cup for France in 2018. But the club finally had enough and let him join Juventus for nothing - a mirror situation to 2012. His career came to a halt last August when he tested positive for testosterone following a 3-0 victory at Udinese. Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and, when taken synthetically at heightened levels, can increase strength, endurance and muscle mass.

The country's national anti-doping tribunal suspended him pending further investigation a month later. Pogba decided against a plea bargain, forcing the case to a trial. A second sample from October also came back positive - with the anti-doping prosecutor's office requesting a four-year ban. That is the maximum permitted punishment and means Pogba will be 35 by the time he can return.

In effect, the former United midfielder may have already played his last game in professional football. Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, maintained last year that, if his client took any substance, he did so without knowing.

What has Pogba said?

Pogba has responded by issuing a statement on social media, he said on Instagram: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.

“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.

“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.”