PAUL POGBA GIVES UPDATE AFTER BEING HANDED A FOUR-YEAR DOPING BAN, AS EX-MAN UNITED AND JUVENTUS STAR OPENS UP ON 'DIFFICULT TIME'

Paul Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban from football earlier in February
The Juventus midfielder insisted that he would be appealing the suspension
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Paul Pogba has provided an update after he was handed a four-year doping ban from football in February and has delivered an upbeat outlook, stating 'all will be well.'

The former Manchester United and Juventus star stated that recent months had been 'difficult', but insisted that he was 'looking forward' to appealing his suspension.

Pogba, 30, had tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following Juventus' opening game of the 2023-24 season, a game in which he was an unused substitute.

He was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after failing that drug test. The former France World Cup winner was then handed the ban that could potentially end his career by an anti-doping prosecutor's office in Italy.

Pogba stated afterwards that he felt the 'verdict is incorrect' and that he was 'sad, shocked and heartbroken' by the decision.

The midfielder hasn't spoken very little on his ban since then, but in an interview with Forbes, reflected on how the ban has been impacting on his life.

'It's difficult to be totally honest,' the Juventus midfielder told Forbes.

'Football has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

'However, I have my family, my faith, my friends, and my fans who have supported me, which makes things easier. All will be well.'

The verdict shocked the world of football, including Pogba, who announced afterwards that he had lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

'Although I can’t speak so much about this, all roads lead to the appeal date,' he added to Forbes.

'Until then, my focus is on staying fit and looking forward to the appeal.'

Since the ban, Pogba has been focusing his time on several other business ventures, and was also recently seen, according to Le Parisien, filming for an upcoming movie '4 Zeros'. Forbes states that Pogba has also been stepping further into the fashion industry, collaborating with high-end Swedish eye-wear brand CHIMI.

The France international has enjoyed a decorated career at the top of the game, notably rising through the Man United academy before moving to Juventus in 2012 on a free transfer.

He'd return to Old Trafford in 2016 for a then world-record £89million, before going on to win the World Cup two years later - scoring in the final against Croatia.

In 2022, he'd return to the Serie A side, but has not played since September, amid his suspension.

'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,' the Frenchman said, on the ban.

'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, a four-time Serie A champion, had also endured an injury-plagued season on his Juventus return, with the Frenchman making just 10 appearances during the 2022-23 season following a spate of hamstring, knee and groin issues.

Pogba had tested positive for a substance known as DHEA, which can naturally boost testosterone levels but has remained adamant that he did not understand how the substance had entered his system.

2024-07-25T17:04:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd