Paul Pogba "Shocked and Heartbroken" After Receiving Four-Year Ban for Doping

Paul Pogba has said that he is "sad, shocked and heartbroken" after being issued with a four-year ban from soccer for a doping offense. Pogba plans to appeal.

Paul Pogba has said that he is "sad, shocked and heartbroken" after being issued with a four-year ban from soccer for a doping offense.

Juventus midfielder Pogba - who has been capped 91 times by France and scored in the 2018 World Cup final - was provisionally suspended in September.

This came after a random drugs test in August found elevated levels of testosterone in his system.

Pogba's lawyers rejected a plea deal and had been hoping for a lighter sentence after claiming that the player had accidentally ingested the substance that caused the positive test.

However, on Thursday a tribunal upheld the recommendation from the anti-doping prosecutor's office to ban Pogba for four years.

Pogba will be 31 next month and it is feared that this punishment could effectively end his playing career.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned from soccer for four years :: IMAGO/Marco Canoniero

In a 124-word statement posted via Instagram, Pogba confirmed that he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Pogba wrote: "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."

Pogba has only played 12 times for Juventus since returning to the club from Manchester United in July 2022.