By Habeeb Ibrahim
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced Paul Pogba’s doping ban from four years to just 18 months, following an appeal from the Juventus midfielder.
This decision allows the 31-year-old to resume training as early as January 2025 and to return to competitive play by March of the same year.
Pogba was originally suspended in February 2023 by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) after a routine drugs test revealed elevated testosterone levels, a hormone known for enhancing endurance. The ban was initially set to keep him sidelined until 2027, when he would be 34 years old.
The reduction in his ban was confirmed by CAS director general Matthieu Reeb, who stated that the new suspension takes effect from September 11, 2023.
The former Manchester United star presented his case during a personal hearing at CAS earlier this summer, maintaining that he had “never knowingly or deliberately” engaged in doping and contesting the initial verdict.
Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, expressed confidence in his client’s innocence, emphasizing that Pogba never intended to break any rules. The midfielder’s positive test arose after a random screening following Juventus’ season opener on August 20, 2023, and the finding was later corroborated by a second sample in October.
Since rejoining Juventus in July 2022 on a four-year contract after leaving Manchester United, Pogba’s tenure in Turin has been marred by injuries.
He notably missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and managed only 162 minutes across five appearances in the 2022-23 season. Prior to his suspension, he had played a mere 51 minutes as a substitute in the current season, further complicating his comeback.
