France head coach Didier Deschamps says he is ‘surprised’ by Paul Pogba’s failed drugs tests and is adamant that the midfielder would not knowingly take a banned substance.
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Pogba is potentially facing a lengthy ban after testosterone was found in his system during a drugs test with Juventus last month.
The former Manchester United midfielder has the opportunity to submit an appeal but could be suspended for up to four years if found guilty.
Deschamps has worked extensively with Pogba during their time together in France’s national team and has revealed that he has already reached out to the 30-year-old.
‘Obviously I am very surprised but I have nothing to judge the matter on,’ Deschamps told TF1.
‘He has a lot of things on his plate, it is a very difficult time. I will have time to speak to him in the next few days, I have already sent him a message.’
Asked if he believed Pogba would have knowingly taken a banned substance, Deschamps replied: ‘I can’t imagine it, knowing him he wouldn’t do it.
‘He has a strong head on his shoulders. I remember the discussions we had about the Covid vaccine.
‘But the substance is in his body and we don’t know how it got there.’
Bayern Munich and France winger Kingsley Coman also issued his support to Pogba.
‘We all support Paul, he’s a very close friend, he’s part of the family,’ Coman said.
‘We don’t really know more, we’ll have to look. But we know Paul, we knows that if something happened, it was surely unconsciously, without intention. We are with him wholeheartedly.’
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