French International Footballer Paul Pogba’s Four-Year Doping Ban Slashed to 18 Months by Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced French footballer Paul Pogba’s four-year doping ban to 18 months.
This decision was announced on Friday and follows Pogba’s appeal against the initial ban imposed by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal.
According to the CAS spokesperson, Pogba’s 18-month suspension will take effect from September 11, 2023, allowing him to return to competitive football on March 11, 2025, just days before his 32nd birthday.
The doping controversy began in August 2023 when Pogba tested positive for testosterone after a match between Juventus and Udinese.
His representatives attributed the presence of testosterone to a food supplement prescribed by a US-based doctor.
Pogba, who played a crucial role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, expressed shock and sadness after the initial ban, maintaining that he had “never knowingly or deliberately” taken doping products.
“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me,” he wrote
Following the CAS ruling, Pogba posted a cryptic message on Instagram, featuring a close-up of his football boots with French flag and World Cup stars.
Pogba’s experience at Juventus has been marred by injuries, including a knee issue that limited him to 10 appearances in the 2022-23 season and ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar.
The reduced ban offers Pogba a chance to revive his football career, potentially returning to the pitch in time for the 2025-26 season.
