Former France midfielder, Paul Pogba, has expressed relief after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 31-year-old’s suspension stemmed from a positive test for elevated testosterone levels, a hormone that enhances endurance, during a random test in August 2023, following Juventus’ season opener.
Initially handed a four-year ban by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal, Pogba’s legal team contested the severity of the punishment.
In a significant breakthrough, CAS announced that the ban had been shortened, allowing Pogba to return to training in January 2025, with eligibility to play resuming in March of the same year.
CAS director general, Matthieu Reeb, confirmed that the suspension was adjusted from its initial ruling on 11 September 2023.
This decision marks a pivotal moment for Pogba, who had previously faced the prospect of being sidelined until 2027, at which point he would have been 34.
Expressing his relief, Pogba stated, “Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.”
He reaffirmed that he never knowingly violated World Anti-Doping Agency regulations and attributed the elevated testosterone levels to a prescribed nutritional supplement.
“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,” Pogba said, underscoring his commitment to fair play.
Acknowledging the strict liability inherent in anti-doping rules, Pogba nonetheless thanked the CAS judges for considering his explanation, stating, “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.”
Pogba’s doping saga began in September 2023 when he was provisionally suspended after his initial test showed elevated testosterone levels.
A second test in October confirmed the results, prompting Italy’s anti-doping prosecutor to push for a four-year ban.
Throughout the ordeal, Pogba and his representatives maintained his innocence, insisting that the French international had never intended to breach any rules. Rafaela Pimenta, Pogba’s agent, had earlier stated, “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.”
The former Manchester United star, who rejoined Juventus in 2022 after leaving United as a free agent, has struggled with persistent injuries that limited his playing time.
During the 2022-23 season, he managed just five appearances, totaling 162 minutes, and his involvement in the following campaign was curtailed to 51 minutes before his suspension took effect.
His injury troubles also caused him to miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a major disappointment in his career.
Pogba’s successful appeal offers him a chance to return to the pitch and rebuild his career after a turbulent period marred by injury and suspension.
Reflecting on the distressing experience, Pogba said, “This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”
As he prepares to resume training, Pogba will look to put the ordeal behind him and refocus on his professional ambitions.
