Paul Pogba shocked with ban verdict after testing positive for testosterone while with Juventus

While Pogba said he would appeal to Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, verdict likely means that France international — who turns 31 next month — didn’t demonstrate any mitigating reasons for his failed test

Paul Pogba’s career seems to be heading towards a premature end.

Once one of the world’s top midfielders, Pogba was banned for the maximum four years by Italy’s anti-doping court on Thursday after the World Cup winner tested positive for testosterone while with Juventus.

While Pogba said he would appeal to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, the verdict likely means that the France international — who turns 31 next month — didn’t demonstrate any mitigating reasons for his failed test.

The positive result was announced in September, stemming from an exam that was carried out on August 20 after Juventus’ game at Udinese. Pogba did not play in the Serie A match but was on the bench.

Pogba opted not to make a plea bargain with Italy’s anti-doping agency and so the case was tried before the country’s anti-doping court. A person with direct knowledge of the case confirmed the verdict on condition of anonymity because the sentence was not made public due to Italy’s privacy laws.

Pogba said in a statement he believes “the verdict is incorrect.”

“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me,” Pogba said.