The Italian anti-doping court ruled that French international Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba be banned for four years due to taking the banned hormone testosterone last August, which is the maximum penalty.

A source inside the club told AFP, “We received a notification from the court this morning,” adding that they “took note” of the court’s decision.

A source close to Pogba told Agence France-Presse, “Of course he will appeal.”

The court’s decision came in the wake of the Italian Anti-Doping Public Prosecution’s request to suspend the 30-year-old player, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

Pogba (91 international matches), who missed most of the 2022-2023 season and only played 10 matches due to injuries, failed the doping test that he underwent after the match between Juventus and its host Udinese in the first stage of the league, in which he did not participate on August 20. /August. Although he remained on the bench and did not participate in the match, he was one of those randomly selected to undergo the test.

To justify this violation, those close to the player reported that the testosterone comes from a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.

The midfielder, who won the 2018 World Cup, has been suspended from playing on reserve since September 11 by the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (Nado).

The examination of the “B” sample that Pogba requested, in early October, confirmed the presence of high levels of the hormone testosterone.

Testosterone, the male fertility hormone, stimulates muscle growth in the body.

Pogba returned to Juventus on a free deal in July 2022, after six seasons with Manchester United, but Pogba played only one starting match.

His return to the ranks of the “Old Lady” was a step that was supposed to renew his career after his failure to impose himself in the ranks of the “Red Devils”, but he immediately suffered a serious knee injury during the preparation for the new season.

Also, his initial decision not to undergo surgery in an attempt to participate in the World Cup in Qatar was the opposite of what he desired because he had to do it close to the World Cup in the end and was unable to help his country defend its title.

Pogba was a key element when the “Roosters” team was crowned champion of the World Cup in 2018 in Russia, and he scored one of France’s goals during its victory over Croatia 4-2 in the final match.

But he has not participated with his country's national team since the friendly victory over South Africa in March of last year.

After being on top of the world, Pogba has slowly descended into the depths, affected by injuries and a difficult personal life that he admits has been negatively affected by the huge sums of money earned by top footballers.

He said in this regard, “Money changes people.” It can lead to family disintegration. It could lead to war. Sometimes I would think to myself +I don't want to have money anymore. I don't want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so that they love me for me and not for the fame and money+.”

Pogba was alluding to a bitter experience. A month after he suffered a torn knee ligament, his brother Matias released a video clip in which he threatened to reveal secrets related to his star brother.

French investigators revealed how he was held at gunpoint by childhood friends and two armed masked men who threatened him for not helping them financially and demanded 13 million euros from him. Pogba ended up paying 100,000 euros of this amount