Emotional Instagram post
©IMAGO
Midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus Turin reacted via Instagram on Thursday afternoon to the four-year ban for doping that was announced a few hours earlier (for reporting). The 30-year-old said he was “shocked” by the verdict. The Frenchman also announced that he wanted to appeal.
“I was informed today of the decision of the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office and I believe that the verdict is wrong. I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional career has been taken away from me. “When I am free from legal restrictions, the whole story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or intentionally taken supplements that violate doping regulations,” said the 2018 world champion, who last played for Serie A in September last year Turin had played.
The 15 most valuable players who will miss the Euro 2024 in Germany
“As a professional athlete, I would never do anything to improve my performance through the use of banned substances and have never cheated teammates or supporters of the teams I played for or against. As a result of the decision announced today, I will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS,” Pogba continued. His positive doping test was carried out as part of a test after the away game at Udinese Calcio (3-0) on the first matchday of the current Serie A season on August 20th, when Pogba was only sitting on the bench. Therefore, endogenous testosterone was not detected. The result was confirmed by the B sample in October. Pogba also admitted that he had taken a food supplement whose package leaflet mentioned performance-enhancing substances.
Pogba ban: Juventus could terminate the contract that runs until 2026
After the ban is confirmed, Juventus could terminate the contract with the 2018 world champion until 2026. For the record champions, who are not financially a bed of roses, Pogba’s salary is said to have been 11 million euros per year before taxes. However, since the ban began, the Frenchman has reportedly only received the minimum wage of around 2,000 euros per month.
Pogba left Juventus in 2016 after four years for Turin’s record fee of 105 million euros for youth club Manchester United, and he returned free of charge in the summer of 2022. Due to injury, he has only played twelve games for the Bianconeri since then and also missed the World Cup in Qatar.
To home page