Paul Pogba was ‘tricked’ into taking the banned substance which noticed him slapped with a four-year ban for doping, a former France team-mate has sensationally claimed.
Pogba was sanctioned final month, having failed a medication take a look at in August by testing optimistic for testosterone.
His attorneys claimed he had unintentionally taken the substance that induced the optimistic take a look at, DHEA, and he has vowed to enchantment.
The 30-year-old was ‘heartbroken’ and Adrien Rabiot has revealed how his team-mates at Juventus are ‘devastated’.
However it’s the allegation that Pogba was ‘tricked’, made by Rio Mavuba, which is most incendiary.
![Paul Pogba was 'tricked' into taking a banned substance, a former team-mate has claimed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/82361119-0-image-a-1_1710249558346.jpg)
Paul Pogba was ‘tricked’ into taking a banned substance, a former team-mate has claimed
![Rio Mavuba, centre, said he is 'in no doubt about Paul's sincerity' before making his claim](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/82361859-0-image-m-3_1710249766876.jpg)
Rio Mavuba, centre, stated he’s ‘in little doubt about Paul’s sincerity’ earlier than making his declare
![Pogba was banned in February after testing positive for testosterone following a game in August](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/82361129-0-image-a-4_1710249807758.jpg)
Pogba was banned in February after testing optimistic for testosterone following a sport in August
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‘[I am] in little doubt about Paul’s sincerity and I believe he could have been considerably tricked too,’ Mavuba informed Telefoot by way of Get French Soccer Information.
Mavuba was in France’s 2014 World Cup squad alongside Pogba and accrued 13 caps for Les Bleus.
Pogba maintained his innocence after his punishment was confirmed, writing: ”As knowledgeable athlete I might by no means do something to boost my efficiency through the use of banned substances and have by no means disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the groups I’ve performed for, or towards.’
He’ll enchantment the choice with sport’s highest authorized authority, the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport.
Rabiot, who has performed with Pogba for France and is at the moment at Juventus, stated the dressing room was ‘devastated by the information’.
He added: ‘We’re speaking to Paul. He’s making an attempt to maintain his head up even when the whole lot is falling on him. I hope he’ll come out of this as greatest he can as a result of having all of this to take care of without delay is rather a lot.’
Adil Rami, an ex-French worldwide, backed Pogba to return. ‘I even suppose that he’s able to coaching by himself for 4 years and coming again. If he does that, it’ll be among the finest tales {that a} champion is able to creating,’ he stated.
He additionally claimed the ban was a ‘waste for French soccer and soccer as an entire’.
![Adrien Rabiot has revealed that team-mates at Juventus are 'devastated' by Pogba's ban](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/82361437-0-image-m-6_1710249897448.jpg)
Adrien Rabiot has revealed that team-mates at Juventus are ‘devastated’ by Pogba’s ban
![Pogba intends to appeal his punishment with the Court of Arbitration for Sport](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/82361125-0-image-a-7_1710249955856.jpg)
Pogba intends to enchantment his punishment with the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport
Pogba’s attorneys had rejected a plea deal and hoped to get their shopper a lighter sentence after claiming he had unintentionally ingested DHEA.
Sharing an announcement after the decision, the France worldwide harassed that he had been handed a ruling that was ‘incorrect’.
‘I’ve right now been knowledgeable of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s resolution and imagine that the decision is inaccurate.
‘I’m unhappy, shocked and heartbroken that the whole lot I’ve inbuilt my skilled enjoying profession has been taken away from me.
‘When I’m freed from authorized restrictions the complete story will develop into clear, however I’ve by no means knowingly or intentionally taken any dietary supplements that violate anti-doping rules.
‘As knowledgeable athlete I might by no means do something to boost my efficiency through the use of banned substances and have by no means disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the groups I’ve performed for, or towards.
‘As a consequence of the choice introduced right now I’ll enchantment this earlier than the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport.’
Pogba’s suspension accomplished a dramatic fall from grace for a participant who was as soon as the most costly footballer on the planet.
After coming via United’s academy, Pogba moved to Juventus on a free switch in 2012 and proceeded to win 4 straight Serie A titles.
![His second spell at Juventus has proved to be a disaster after he rejoined the club in 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/81867655-0-His_second_spell_at_Juventus_has_proved_to_be_a_disaster_after_h-a-8_1710250002092.jpg)
His second spell at Juventus has proved to be a catastrophe after he rejoined the membership in 2022
![Pogba was once the most expensive player in the world when he signed for Man United for £89m in 2016](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/81868179-0-Pogba_was_once_the_most_expensive_player_in_the_world_when_he_si-a-9_1710250010402.jpg)
Pogba was as soon as the most costly participant on the planet when he signed for Man United for £89m in 2016
This satisfied the Pink Devils to carry him again to Outdated Trafford in 2016 for a world-record payment of £89m.
Pogba gained the World Cup with France two years later, scoring within the remaining towards Croatia, however struggled to hit the identical heights at membership stage.
Throughout his six years again in England, Pogba gained the Europa League and League Cup with United, however failed to show them into Premier League title contenders.
His remaining sport noticed him limp off after 10 minutes as United slumped to a dismal 4-0 defeat towards bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
He left the 13-time Premier League champions on a free switch for the second time in 2022 to return to Juventus as he aimed to resurrect his profession.
However his first yr again in Turin proved disastrous as he missed the vast majority of the marketing campaign as a result of damage.
Pogba began only one sport all season after being sidelined with knee, groin and hamstring issues.
He was named on the bench for his or her opening match of the 2023-24 season, however was an unused substitute of their 3-0 win at Udinese.
![Pogba won the World Cup with France in 2018, scoring in the final against Croatia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/81868881-0-Pogba_won_the_World_Cup_with_France_in_2018_scoring_in_the_final-a-10_1710250019094.jpg)
Pogba gained the World Cup with France in 2018, scoring within the remaining towards Croatia
![He failed to hit the same heights at club level for Man United, and left the club in 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/81868903-0-He_failed_to_hit_the_same_heights_at_club_level_for_Man_United_a-a-11_1710250023146.jpg)
He didn’t hit the identical heights at membership stage for Man United, and left the membership in 2022
Following that match, he returned a take a look at that has led to him receiving a four-year ban.
The substance present in his system was DHEA, which might naturally increase ranges of testosterone.
Pogba requested for his B-sample to be examined, however this additionally got here again optimistic in October, resulting in Juventus considering terminating his contract.
He was adamant from the beginning that he had no thought how the substance had received into his system and that he had not been trying to achieve a sporting benefit.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Pogba had been compelled to take a big wage lower as he awaited a verdict on the case.
They declare that Pogba has been incomes simply £1,700-a-month (€2,000) over the past 5 months. A far cry from the £6.8million-a-season (€8million) he’d anticipated to earn throughout his time with Juventus.
![Pogba kept himself in shape while he waited to learn his punishment, but he has now been given a lengthy ban](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/13/81868779-0-Pogba_kept_himself_in_shape_while_he_waited_to_learn_his_punishm-a-12_1710250035350.jpg)
Pogba stored himself in form whereas he waited to study his punishment, however he has now been given a prolonged ban
He may additionally, doubtlessly, be set to lose out on some profitable sponsorship offers, seeing as he’ll now be spending a substantial time away from the pitch.
Probably the most notable of his offers is the ten-year sponsorship with Adidas, which he signed in February 2016 for a reported £31million (€40million), though they’ve stood by him up to now.
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