French international Paul Pogba, once a star in his country’s midfield whose career has faced significant setbacks, expressed relief as his doping ban was cut from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Under contract with Juventus until 2026, Pogba will be eligible to return to competitive football on March 11 next year, just days before his 32nd birthday.
“Finally, the nightmare is over. I can now look forward to following my dreams again,” said Pogba, who has been suspended since his positive doping test was revealed in September last year.
He maintained that he never intentionally violated World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, claiming he had taken a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor that did not enhance male athletic performance.
“I play with integrity, and while I acknowledge this is a strict liability offense, I want to thank the CAS judges for hearing my explanation,” Pogba added.
While CAS confirmed that the ban had been reduced, it did not provide further details regarding the ruling.
Pogba initially tested positive for testosterone in August last year and received the maximum penalty from Italy’s anti-doping court, which prompted him to appeal to CAS.
Under global anti-doping regulations, four-year bans are standard, but they can be reduced if athletes can demonstrate their doping was unintentional, a result of contamination, or if they offer significant assistance to investigators.
“This has been an incredibly difficult time for me, as everything I worked so hard for has been put on hold,” said Pogba, who became the world’s most expensive player in 2016 when Manchester United signed him from Juventus for €105 million. “I just can’t wait to get back on the pitch.”
Pogba, a key player in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, returned to Juventus as a free agent in 2022. However, injuries restricted him to only eight Serie A appearances during his second stint with the club, and he missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar amidst various personal and professional challenges.
