Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned from all football-related activities and received a hefty fine after being found guilty of doping violations last year.

In September 2023, the World Cup winner was provisionally banned from playing football after failing a random drug test following Juventus’s against Udinese the previous month.

According to reports, non-endogenous testosterone metabolites were found in his test results, and the results were confirmed in October after Sample B results showed the same results.

However, the anti-doping prosecutor’s office in Italy has now decided to hand Pogba a four-year ban. In addition to that, Daily Mail reported he was fined heavily.

His lawyer had rejected a plea deal with the hope his client would receive less punishment, claiming the footballer “accidentally” ingested the substance that resulted in the positive results.

The verdict has now seemingly ended the football career of the Frenchman, as he will not be back on the pitch until the next 31 months when he will be almost 35 years old.

Pogba returned to Juventus after his contract with Manchester United expired in the summer of 2022. 

He has only managed to play 12 games for the Italian giants, expected to release a statement on the latest development.

Pogba said, “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.”