France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba said he is going to lunch an Appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport after he was handed a four-year ban from football for a doping offence.
The French midfielder made this know via his Instagram page on Thursday.
According to Pogba, I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that 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.
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.
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 the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Pogba was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping body, Nado Italia, at a tribunal in September last year.
Pogba tested positive for testosterone – a banned substance – after Juve’s 3-0 league win at Udinese on 20 August, with a B sample confirming the positive result in October.
