Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been reduced from the original four-year term to 18 months, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Friday. This reduction means that the former French international will be eligible to return to competitive football by March 2025.
The decision was confirmed by CAS Director General, Matthieu Reeb, who said, “The suspension is now 18 months, starting from September 11, 2023.” This provides a lifeline to Pogba, who has been away from football since August 2023, following a positive test for the banned substance DHEA, a compound that boosts testosterone levels.
Pogba expressed his relief in an emotional statement, saying, “Finally, the nightmare is over. I can now look forward to the day I can follow my dreams once more. I always maintained that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a supplement prescribed by a doctor. This supplement did not enhance or affect the performance of male athletes.”
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, a four-year ban is standard, but reductions are possible if the athlete can prove that the positive result was not intentional or was due to contamination. Such is the case with Pogba, who consistently denied any wrongdoing and appealed the ban through CAS.
Pogba was initially handed a four-year suspension in February 2024 by Italy’s national anti-doping body (NADO Italia) after testing positive following Juventus’ Serie A match against Udinese in August 2023. The tribunal’s findings stated the presence of “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites,” indicating that the substance was externally introduced.
During the appeal, Pogba thanked the CAS judges, noting, “Although this is a strict liability offense, I am grateful for the chance to present my explanation. This period has been deeply distressing, putting everything I worked for on hold. I cannot wait to get back on the pitch.”
Despite being sidelined for nearly 14 months, Pogba has reportedly worked hard to maintain his fitness during the ban. Sources close to him believe that he won’t take long to regain his match sharpness once he returns.
Pogba’s career took a hit after he rejoined Juventus in 2022 from Manchester United for his second stint. The French midfielder faced several injuries, including a knee injury that kept him out of France’s journey to the 2022 World Cup final. Notably, Pogba was a key figure in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, even scoring in the 4-2 win over Croatia in the final.
Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, maintained that her client “never wanted to break the rules.” Meanwhile, the Frenchman took to social media after the CAS verdict, sharing an image of himself in football boots with personalized “PP6” socks, featuring the French flag and two stars representing France’s World Cup triumphs. His post also included an hourglass emoji, symbolizing his countdown to return.
With his ban now set to end in March 2025, Pogba is eager to return to football, restore his career, and leave this dark chapter behind.
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