Rio Ferdinand has advised former Man United teammate Paul Pogba to speak out after he was handed a four-year doping ban last week.
The 30-year-old tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance that increases testosterone, after playing in the opening match of the season against Udinese on August 20.
Pogba has vowed to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with the 2018 World Cup winner facing a fight to overturn the sanction that threatens his playing career.
Ferdinand tried to give Pogba advice after facing his own doping case in 2003.
The former Man United defender was handed an eight-month football ban and a £50,000 fine after failing to provide a drug sample after training on September 23 that year. The following year he lost an appeal.
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned for four years after failing a drugs test
Sources told Mail Sport that the positive test relates to a set of pills prescribed by an American doctor
Rio Ferdinand has advised his former Man United teammate to speak out about his case
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Ferdinand, who was 25 years old at the time, had stated that he had forgotten to take the test and provided a clear sample two days later.
Speaking out on his podcast ‘Rio Ferdinand presents FIVE‘ he said he would now ‘chat’ in Pogba’s position if he is innocent, with the benefit of his own experience.
“I’m well placed to sit here and talk about this because I’ve been through this,” Ferdinand said.
“I’m not going to immediately say he’s guilty as I’ve been in this position and I know Paul, I need to hear from him and see some facts.
“My lawyers and the club have said to me, let the lawyers deal with it and let it run its course, and I hope they will do the right thing by you.
‘If I had my time again and I was Paul Pogba now and I’m innocent, I’d be chatting and telling people this happened.
“I think he needs to speak – whether they think this is messing up the trial, not – they gave him a four year suspension, I don’t think it will be two years if he appeals because these people will want to make sure they get their blood supply.
“He has to take care of himself here.”
Sources close to the situation told Mail Sport that the positive test relates to a set of pills prescribed to Pogba by an American doctor.
The tablets were prescribed to the former Manchester United star in late November 2022.
Pogba was ordered to take the supplements, made by an American company, after blood tests revealed certain deficiencies in his body.
It is understood that the fact that he was advised to take the tablets on medical advice formed the basis of Pogba’s defense in his attempts to avoid a long-term ban.
Pogba released a calm statement confirming he would now take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It is understood he will not speak publicly before the CAS hearing as he does not want to disrespect the process by presenting his defense to the wider public before appearing before the judges.
“When I am free from legal restrictions the whole story will become clear, but I have never knowingly used supplements that violate anti-doping rules.
Ferdinand cited his own experiences after being hit with an eight-month ban in 2003
The former Man United defender was banned for missing a drugs test and failed on appeal
Ferdinand suggested Pogba should ‘take care of himself’ as he appeals his sanction
“As a professional athlete, I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and I have never disrespected or deceived fellow athletes and supporters of the teams I played for or against.
‘As a result of the decision announced today, I will appeal against it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.’
Despite the apparently controlled nature of his comments, Pogba is said to be furious at the length of the ban, the maximum penalty the Italian anti-doping court can impose, believing the punishment is disproportionate to precedent.
Pogba requested a test of his B sample but this too came back positive in October, leading Juventus to consider terminating his contract.
If Pogba fails to have his ban overturned or shortened, he will be almost 35 by the time his ban ends.