Paul Pogba banned for four years: What is DHEA the substance found in positive tests that has led to World Cup winners’ ban that could end football career

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was handed a four-year ban after a failed drugs test back in August.

The 30-year-old tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’ opening game of the season against Udinese, and has now been received a hefty punishment as reported by La Repubblica.

Pogba’s lawyers had rejected a plea deal and hoped to get their client a lighter sentence after claiming he had accidentally ingested the substance that caused the positive test.

Paul Pogba received a four-year ban with DHEA found in his testing

Mail Sport breaksdown the substance that led to the positive test and it’s affects. 

So what is DHEA? 

It was reported shortly after the positive test that the World Cup winner actually had a banned substance in his system as opposed to just receiving testosterone.

That substance was Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a supplement that is said to naturally boost testosterone production.

The substance is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list, carrying with it a maximum of four years if taken deliberately to enhance an athletes performance.

The drug is classed as an anabolic androgenic steroid, a class of hormones widely abused for their muscle-building and strength-increasing properties, According to the NHS.

Despite it’s classification DHEA is not a banned substance in the United States of America among other nations and can be found in a number of supplements.

Has anyone been banned for it before?

 The UFC’s Bobby Green received a much lesser ban for the use of DHEA by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

In 2022 the lightweight was handed a six-month ban after testing positive for the substance.

His sentence was reduced by USADA due to his cooperation and a small amount of the performance enhancement substance being found.

The American fighter accepted responsibility for actions and said he did not realise that DHEA was a banned substance after seeing a video for it on YouTube and started taking the supplement after his wife bought it from a Supermarket.