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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Rabiot addresses Pogba doping situation</li><li>Stresses difficulty for team-mate</li><li>Called for light punishment</li></ul>

'He's a great man' - Adrien Rabiot hopeful Paul Pogba gets 'lightest sanction possible' after failed doping test as he defends 'disheartened' Juventus team-mate

Serie A

Juventus

Inter

The former Manchester United midfielder was provisionally suspended over elevated levels of testosterone <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/juventus-midfielder-paul-pogba-failing-anti-doping-test/blt26a7f7b3be44e98e" target="_blank">back in September</a>. Pogba is yet to return to action for club or country as he awaits a ban that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/what-future-paul-pogba-agent-reveals-only-thought-world-cup-winner-ban-failed-drugs-test/bltac37e0bf678e215f#csf6da1d5a72c305dd" target="_blank">could rise to as many as four years</a> away from the game. Rabiot, his club and international team-mate, has since lifted the lid on the difficult situation, and has called for a minimum possible punishment.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to <a href="https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Juventus/20-11-2023/juve-rabiot-pogba-e-sempre-sorridente-ma.shtml" target="_blank">La Gazzetta dello Sport</a>, the 28-year-old said: "I don't know what will happen to Pogba. We always talk. We met before I joined up the national team and we had dinner together. Paul is always smiling and outgoing. I think the situation is weighing on him. I hope he manages to get the lightest sanction possible. Paul is disheartened. He's a great player, a great man. Dealing with everything he had to go through is very difficult for any person.”

WHAT RABIOT SAID

Pogba was found with the banned substance DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) in his system, which naturally boosts testosterone. As a result, the 30-year-old has seen his salary drop significantly, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/10m-per-year-2k-a-month-paul-pogba-wage-cut-juventus-failed-drugs-test/blt835aee47031065a4#cs16c8b79c91193ce8" target="_blank">from €10 million (£9m/$11m) to a reported €2,000 (£1,700/$2,200) a month</a>. His current suspension at Juventus could yet be elevated to a contract termination depending on the final verdict, while France coach Didier Deschamps was similarly <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/will-paul-pogba-play-for-france-again-world-cup-winner-complicated-warning-didier-deschamps-drugs-test-juventus/blt6173975d434a1d8e#cs2187e72927762303" target="_blank">unable to give him any assurances over his international future</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Deschamps, Rabiot and Co. were unable to build on a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/france-player-ratings-gibraltar-kylian-mbappe-hat-trick-didier-deschamps-record-historic-14-0-victory-largest-ever-european-scoreline/blta605e262b2867c93" target="_blank">record-breaking win over Gibraltar</a> at the weekend, posting a disappointing 2-2 draw for France against Greece on Tuesday. Rabiot will now begin preparations for Juventus' next match against Inter on Sunday. Pogba, meanwhile, will continue to sweat over his future, with now news as yet on a date for that doping ban verdict.

WHAT NEXT FOR RABIOT?

'He's a great man' - Adrien Rabiot hopeful Paul Pogba gets 'lightest sanction possible' after failed doping test as he defends 'disheartened' Juventus team-mate | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has pledged his support to Paul Pogba, who awaits his punishment after failing a doping test.

&apos;He&apos;s a great man&apos; - Adrien Rabiot hopeful Paul Pogba gets &apos;lightest sanction possible&apos; after failed doping test as he defends &apos;disheartened&apos; Juventus team-mate

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