Gary Lineker has shared a worrying theory in the wake of Paul Pogba’s four-year ban for doping.
On Thursday, Juventus’ Pogba was banned for four years over a doping offence, after testing positive for abnormal levels of testosterone in August. The France World Cup winner has vehemently insisted the result is incorrect.
In a statement, Pogba said: "I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.
Advert
"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."
Pogba has said he will appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Advert
Reacting to the news of Pogba’s ban on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said he has long believed that the use of performance-enhancing drugs is likely to be prevalent in football due to the amount of money in the game.
Speaking on Pogba’s ban, Lineker claimed: “I wonder a little bit generally. I’ve always had a slight fear in recent years about possible performance-enhancing drugs in football.
“There are a lot of players now playing a lot longer than they used to.
Advert
“And I know things have improved with medical situations and stuff but it’s in most other sports and when you consider the amount of money in football, if you can perform a little bit better, with the vast sums you could get the temptations must be there.
“I suspect that Pogba is not the only player to do this but it is a worry. I think it is for all sports.”
Topics: Paul Pogba, Football, Gary Lineker, Juventus