Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba has been handed a four-year ban from football by Italian anti-doping chiefs for testing positive for testosterone.
Juventus and France midfielder Pogba returned the positive test after the Italian club’s first game of the season, against Udinese in August.
The ban raises doubts about the 30-year-old’s future in the game, given he could be in his mid-30s by the time the suspension expires.
Pogba has the right to appeal the verdict, however, and could take a challenge to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Unless the ban is overturned or slashed during the next three months, he will be unavailable for France at this summer’s Euro 2024.
Pogba has won more than 90 caps for France, who he helped to win the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League in 2021.
He returned to Juventus on a four-year contract in summer 2022 after a free transfer from United, but played just 161 minutes due mainly to injury.
Before that Pogba won three trophies at United, who he rejoined from Juventus in a then-world record £89m deal in 2016.
Former United star Pogba has received a four-year ban
He first moved to Italy in 2012, three years after leaving his native France for United’s youth set-up. Pogba left England after becoming frustrated at a lack of first-team action.
Pogba has been provisionally suspended since September. He requested his B sample be tested but that, too, proved positive.