Pogba chose not to pursue a plea bargain with Italy’s anti-doping agency, leading to the case being heard before the country’s anti-doping court.
An individual familiar with the matter confirmed the ruling to The Associated Press anonymously, as Italy’s privacy laws prevent the sentence from being disclosed publicly.
In a statement, Pogba expressed his belief that the verdict is erroneous:
“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.”
Paul Pogba
A CAS verdict typically requires a full year to be reached, following the standard timeline, unless one party requests an expedited process and the opposing side consents.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, four-year bans are customary; however, they may be shortened in circumstances where athletes can demonstrate unintentional doping, contamination of the positive test, or offer significant assistance to investigators.
