Latest news with #dopingban
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pogba says he is talking to a club about comeback after ban
Paul Pogba went to Cannes in May to see crime film "Highest 2 Lowest" and may return to the Riviera to join Monaco after his own legal dramas (Sameer AL-DOUMY) Former France midfielder Paul Pogba, who wants to resume his career after a doping ban, said on French television on Sunday he is "talking" with a club, which sources close to him said was Monaco. The 32-year-old also said he had re-established contact with his brother Mathias, sentenced to a year in prison last December for his involvement in a plot to extort 13 million euros ($15 million) from the 2018 World Cup winner. Advertisement Pogba, who played for Manchester United and Juventus, is hoping to put three chaotic years behind him. Pogba suffered through repeated injuries and patchy form that led to his departure from United in 2022. He returned for a second stint at Juventus, where his problems continued. He failed a drugs test after a game in Italy in August 2023 and was handed a four-year doping ban, which was reduced 18 months on appeal. It ended in March. "It was very, very hard," he said. He said he was "talking" to a club, which multiple sources said was Ligue 1 Monaco. Pogba said he was determined "to get back on the pitch, mentally ready, physically ready, it's just a matter of time". Advertisement The extortion case involving six men linked to Paul Pogba shocked France because the perpetrators included three childhood friends and his own brother. The five other defendants were found guilty of extortion, kidnapping and detention, as well as participation in a criminal association, and sentenced to up to eight years in prison. All six were also fined. Paul Pogba said he was talking to Mathias who is being allowed to serve his sentence wearing an electronic bracelet rather than behind bars. "We are in contact. We've spoken, among ourselves, with the family," Paul Pogba said. "It's a blood bond. There was a scar, of course. We're moving forward. Only time can give us answers." Advertisement "All we want is to always be united as a family. That's the most important thing. It's hard. Of course it's very hard, I'm not going to lie. I was hurt. It's not the same as before, but we're in touch," he added. Paul Pogba was held at gunpoint in 2022 by two hooded men who demanded money. He said on Sunday that he was initially willing to pay but "afterwards, I cracked," he said, deciding "to speak out, even if it meant dying" and refusing "to throw away my money like that". He said the ban and the court case had changed him "I learned a lot during this period," Pogba said. "I did a lot of cleaning around myself too. I am also much closer to my family, my children." eba/pb/ea
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Paul Pogba holds talks with Champions League club over return to football after the end of his 18-month doping ban
Paul Pogba has held talks with Monaco as he weighs up his next move after returning from his doping ban. The free agent, 32, officially returned from his suspension in March and last featured for Juventus against Empoli in September 2023. Pogba left Juventus in November last year and has been training to keep himself sharp for any suitors. The former Manchester United star shared pictures on Tuesday at an athletics and football facility with Roma striker Paulo Dybala and, somewhat bizarrely, Donald Trump 's businessman son-in-law Michael Boulos among others. The foul weather did not deter him from getting a workout in. Mail Sport exclusively revealed last year that Pogba had had his four-year ban cut to 18 months after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He also sat down with Mail Sport one-on-one to open up on the 'hell' of his ban and how it had impacted his life. 'We are all human, we all have feelings. When that (ban) happened, I realised what life is,' the World Cup winner said. 'Paul Pogba — the famous guy — is no more. People were avoiding me. I used to get invited to fashion weeks and events like that. 'Now they were like, 'We can't use Pogba'. My friends weren't ringing like the way they were ringing before. 'When people hear doping it's like they think you want to become the Incredible Hulk. That's how people used to see me. And public opinion means they can say what they want.' He also said: 'We went through hell. A time of darkness. But this is my second chance, I have to use it.' Moving to Monaco would represent his firts taste of domestic French football since he left Le Havre's academy in 2009. Adi Hutter's men finished third in Ligue 1 this season and have therefore qualified for the league phase of the Champions League. There is every chance he could face one of his old Premier League rivals, although there will be no reunion with Man United after they lost the Europa League final. The Frenchman eventually left Old Trafford on a free in the summer of 2022, six years after he had returned for a then-world record £89million fee. He returned to Juventus in 2022 but only managed 12 appearances due to injury troubles before a failed drugs test in August 2023. In February 2024, Pogba, then 30, was slapped with a four-year ban from football after failing the test. He had tested positive for testosterone after Juventus's first game of the 2023-24 season against Udinese, and was given his hefty punishment by an anti-doping prosecutor's office in Italy.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set up blockbuster French Open semi-final clash
Iga Swiatek is still in the hunt for a record-breaking French Open title triumph after setting up a blockbuster semi-final against World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Swiatek swept past Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-1 7-5 on a windy day at Roland Garros to book her place in the last four. The 24-year-old, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, is looking to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. Although she failed to win a title going into the French Open this season, she looks to have rediscovered her remarkable clay-court form in Paris. She will next play top seeded Sabalenka in a mouth-watering semi-final after the Belarusian beat China's Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. "I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set," Swiatek said in a post-match interview. "When I saw my intensity go low I got it high again. I am happy I did it at the end of the set. "Against Aryna it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season." "I will not lie. It will be a tough match but am happy for the challenge," she said. The Pole is now on a 26-match winning streak at the French Open, following her title three-peat between 2022 and 2024 which added to her 2020 crown. Swiatek, playing in an initially sparsely filled Court Philipp Chatrier, broke the Ukrainian early and kept her on the back foot with her heavy top-spin forehand and rapid changes in pace and direction. Svitolina desperately tried to hang on but she could not match her opponent's power in rallies, sending a forehand into the net to hand her another break as Swiatek bagged the set on her serve in the next game. With her husband, French tennis player Gael Monfils, watching from the stands, Svitolina ignited hope among the crowd when she moved 5-4 up in the second set. Three unforced forehand errors in the next game, however, proved too many and Swiatek raced through the next three games to seal victory, firing three aces in the final game including one on match point.
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Swiatek sweeps past Svitolina to set up Sabalenka showdown at French Open
The four-time champion Iga Swiatek of Poland swept aside Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 on a windy day at the French Open to earn a semi-final spot and stay in the hunt for a record-breaking victory in Paris. The 24-year-old, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, is looking to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. Although she failed to win a title going into the French Open this season, she looks to have rediscovered her remarkable claycourt form in Paris. She will next play world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a mouthwatering semi-final after the Belarusian beat China's Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. 'I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set,' Swiatek said in a post-match interview. 'When I saw my intensity go low I got it high again. I am happy I did it at the end of the set. Against Aryna it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season. I will not lie. It will be a tough match but am happy for the challenge.' The Pole is now on a 26-match winning streak at the French Open, following her title three-peat between 2022-24 to add to her 2020 crown. Swiatek, playing in an initially sparsely filled Philipp Chatrier stadium, broke the Ukrainian, in her fifth quarter-final appearance in Paris, early and kept her on the back foot with her heavy top-spin forehand and rapid changes in pace and direction. Svitolina desperately tried to hang on but she could not match her opponent's power in rallies, sending a forehand into the net to hand her another break as Swiatek bagged the set on her serve in the next game. With her husband, French tennis player Gaël Monfils, watching from the stands, Svitolina ignited hope among the crowd when she moved 5-4 up in the second set. Three unforced forehand errors in the next game, however, proved too many and Swiatek raced through the next three games to seal victory, firing three aces in the final game including one on match point.
Asharq Al-Awsat
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
World Number One Sinner Obliterates Lehecka to Reach French Open Fourth Round
World number one Jannik Sinner delivered a flawless performance to pulverise Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-0 6-1 6-2 in little more than 90 minutes on Saturday, to burst into the French Open fourth round and issue a ominous warning to other title contenders. The 23-year-old Italian, who returned to tennis in May after a three-month-doping ban, won the first 11 games in a row, and has so far found no resistance en route to the last 16, Reuters reported. He has yet to drop a set in his second tournament back, after reaching the final in Rome earlier in the month. "Today I was playing really, really well," Sinner said. "He was serving very well and brave. But I am very happy. "My coach had (his) birthday yesterday and usually when he has birthday I don't play good. Luckily I was not playing yesterday." "This morning I said to my team I feel well," he added. "I warmed up feeling really well, trying to go on court with a good focus. My team gave me the right tactics. It is a combination also being happy on court." Sinner exploded into action, racing through the first set with a bagel in 25 minutes. The Czech was left stunned, wondering how to counter such power and precision, but before he came up with any answer he was already trailing 3-0 in the second set. Pinned to the back, Lehecka could only watch how Sinner's shots flew past him, including a sensational baseline forehand winner that earned the Italian a 4-0 advantage. The 23-year-old world number 34 earned a big cheer when he finally got onto the scoreboard at 5-1 but his ordeal was far from over. Sinner served out the second set before proceeding to break shell-shocked Lehecka at the very start of the third. Running his panting opponent ragged, Sinner earned another break and put him out of his misery with his first match point. The top seed has now stretched his winning streak at Grand Slam events to 17 matches, after winning the titles at the 2024 US Open and the Australian Open in January prior to his doping ban. He will next face 17th-seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced after his opponent Arthur Fils of France withdrew with a back injury.
