They 'tricked' Pogba into taking banned substance — Ex-France international claims

Paul Pogba, the acclaimed Juventus midfielder, is facing a four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance. Amidst the controversy, a former France teammate, Rio Mavuba, suggests a possible deception in the scandal. Pogba's legal team is gearing up to challenge the ban, claiming innocence and inadvertent ingestion of the substance.

Paul Pogba's world took an unexpected turn when a drug test revealed his positive result for DHEA, a banned substance known for its testosterone-boosting properties.

While Pogba's legal representatives vehemently deny any intentional misconduct on his part, citing accidental ingestion as the cause, the ban remains a looming threat to his career.

Rio Mavuba, a former French national team member and Pogba's contemporary during the 2014 World Cup, has cast doubt on the alleged doping incident.

In a statement to Telefoot, Mavuba suggested a possible deceitful act that might have led Pogba to unknowingly consume the banned substance.

"(I am) in no doubt about Paul’s sincerity and I think he may have been somewhat tricked too."

Pogba is set to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) as he continues to insist on his innocence.