Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been suspended from football for four years after testing positive for a banned substance.
Pogba tested positive for testosterone earlier this season and was suspended on September 11, 2023, while officials launched an investigation.
Pogba claimed that he ingested the substance by accident in the hopes of receiving a reduced suspension, but his claims were rejected, and he has now been given the maximum possible suspension of four years, as first reported by La Repubblica.
Pogba will turn 31 in March and will not be able to return to competitive football until just before his 35th birthday. It is understood that his four-year suspension will include the time he has already spent on the sidelines, and will thus be lifted in 2027.
Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer after his contract with Manchester United expired in 2022, but a serious knee injury in the summer limited him to just ten appearances across all competitions last season, including one start in Serie A. Since rejoining Juventus, he has only played 213 minutes.
The French midfielder did not play in the season's first game, but he was randomly selected for a doping test afterward. He made two more substitute appearances before the results were announced, and Pogba was suspended.
He is under contract with Juventus until 2026. The club has been informed of the court's decision, but has yet to respond publicly.