Paul Pogba to appeal 'incorrect' doping ban

Paul Pogba has confirmed he plans to appeal the four-year suspension handed down to him for doping.

Pogba tested positive for testosterone after the first game of the current season and his claim that he ingested the substance accidentally was rejected by the anti-doping office, who issued the maximum punishment of a four-year ban.

Taking to Instagram after the decision was made, Pogba insisted he would appeal what he described as an "incorrect" verdict.

"I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect," he wrote.

"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's representative, Rafaela Pimenta, said at the time of his initial suspension back in September: "The certain thing is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break the rules."

Pogba's four-year ban will be backdated to September, meaning he will be free to return to football in 2027, at which point he will be 34 years old.

The Frenchman's return to Juventus in 2022 quickly descended into a nightmare when he suffered a serious knee injury that ultimately required surgery and restricted him to just one Serie A start last year.

He was an unused substitute for the match which proceeded his doping test and managed two more substitute appearances before his suspension was confirmed.

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