In a major development for the French football star, Paul Pogba’s four-year ban for doping has been reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This ruling means the 2018 World Cup winner will be eligible to return to the football field in March 2025.
The CAS confirmed the reduction to The Associated Press on Friday, without elaborating on the reasoning behind the decision. In a statement, Pogba expressed his relief, stating, “Finally the nightmare is over. Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.”
The Juventus midfielder initially tested positive for testosterone in August 2022 and was handed the maximum punishment by Italy’s anti-doping court. Pogba vehemently denied any intentional wrongdoing, claiming the positive test stemmed from a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor. He appealed to the CAS, based in Switzerland, arguing that the verdict was “incorrect.”
While four-year bans are standard under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, they can be reduced in certain circumstances. These include situations where the athlete can prove the doping was unintentional, if the positive test was a result of contamination, or if the athlete provides substantial assistance to investigators.
Pogba, who has always maintained his innocence, emphasized his commitment to playing with integrity. “I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes,” he said. “I play with integrity, and although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation. This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”
The 31-year-old Pogba, known for his impressive skills and dynamic midfield play, was the most expensive footballer in history when he joined Manchester United from Juventus in 2016 for a fee of 105 million euros ($113 million). He played a crucial role in France’s World Cup victory in 2018 and returned to Juventus as a free agent in 2022. However, injuries and the doping suspension have limited his recent playing time, with only eight Serie A appearances in his second stint at Juventus before the ban.
Now, with the reduced ban, Pogba is looking forward to a return to the pitch, eager to resume his football career. “I just cannot wait to get back on the pitch,” he said.
