Paul Pogba 'sad, shocked and heartbroken' after four-year doping ban

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba says he is “sad, shocked and heart-broken” after being given a four-year ban from football after failing a drugs test.

The French World Cup winner tested positive for testosterone metabolites following Juventus's opening match of the Serie A season against Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.

He also made appearances off the bench for Juventus against Bologna on August 27 and Empoli on September 3, before his suspension was announced.

A month later a B sample confirmed the presence of testosterone, and he has been provisionally suspended since. Pogba's representatives said the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.

Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal accepted the request of the Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office to hand out the four-year ban – which is the standard length of ban under the World Anti-Doping Code. Pogba has said that he will appeal.

“I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping's decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect,” Pogba, 30, said in a statement on Instagram.

“I am sad, shocked and heart-broken 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 antidoping regulations.

“As a professional athlete I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and have never disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the teams I have played for, or against.

“As a consequence of the decision announced today I will appeal this before