Paul Pogba and ten other footballers who have been banned for doping

The football authorities have reiterated that it is the players’ responsibility to ensure no banned substances enter their bodies, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Nevertheless, cases like Paul Pogba’s recent doping violation continue to emerge.

The 2018 World Cup winner was found guilty of doping and consequently received a four-year ban.

This incident is not isolated, as numerous other footballers have faced bans for breaking anti-doping regulations in the past.

Here are 10 other footballers who have been banned for doping:

1. Paul Pogba: The most recent case sees the French football star slapped with a four-year ban by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal for consuming a supplement containing testosterone. Pogba plans to appeal the ban at CAS. Aged 30, this could mark the end of his career.
2. Kolo Touré: Received a six-month ban from the FA in May 2011 while playing for Manchester City after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
3. Edgar Davids: Tested positive for nandrolone, an illegal anabolic steroid, in 2001 while at Juventus, resulting in a four-month suspension.
4. Adrian Mutu: Terminated his contract with Chelsea after testing positive for cocaine in 2004, leading to a seven-month ban. He faced a nine-month suspension in 2010 after failing a second drug test.
5. Andre Onana: Received a nine-month ban from UEFA after accidentally consuming the prohibited drug furosemide. His initial 12-month ban was reduced upon appeal.
6. Jake Livermore: Tested positive for cocaine while with Hull City in May 2015. He was suspended for the remainder of the Premier League season but later had his suspension lifted.
7. Chris Armstrong: Became the first Premier League player to fail a drug test in March 1995 after testing positive for cannabis while at Crystal Palace.
8. Fred: Found using the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide during the 2015 Copa America, leading to a four-month ban by FIFA.
9. Samir Nasri: Banned for 18 months after receiving a 500ml infusion, exceeding the permissible limit set by WADA. His ban ended in December 2018.
10. Diego Maradona: Tested positive for cocaine in 1991 while at Napoli, resulting in a 15-month suspension. Maradona’s career was also marred by off-field controversies related to drug abuse.