Paul Pogba has expressed relief as he announces that his “nightmare is over” following the reduction of his ban for a doping offence from four years to 18 months. This decision came after a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to sources close to the 31-year-old player, he is set to resume training in January 2025 and will be eligible to return to play by March of that year.
Pogba’s suspension came to light when Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal, Nado, found elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone known to boost endurance, in a drug test conducted in February. The CAS confirmed to Reuters that the ban has been officially reduced to 18 months, starting from September 11, 2023.
In an emotional statement, Pogba conveyed his gratitude: “Finally, the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.” He emphasized his belief that he never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when taking a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor, asserting that it did not enhance athletic performance. “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,” he added. This period of suspension has been profoundly distressing for Pogba, as it has interfered with his career and aspirations, placing everything he worked hard for on hold.
Pogba, who previously played for Manchester United, took his case to CAS, where he presented evidence in person during a hearing earlier in the summer. He maintained that he would “never knowingly or deliberately” engage in doping and deemed the initial verdict as “incorrect.” Had his original sentence stood, the World Cup-winning midfielder would have faced an unimaginable scenario of being unable to play until 2027, when he would be 34 years old.
The journey to this point has been filled with challenges. Pogba faced provisional suspension in September 2023, following a random drug test after Juventus’ opening match in the 2023-24 season. The initial positive result was confirmed by Nado through a second sample in October that led to the prosecutor’s request for a four-year suspension.
His agent, Rafaela Pimenta, was vocal about Pogba’s situation during the initial suspension, indicating, “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.” This incident follows Pogba’s re-signing with Juventus on a four-year deal in July 2022, after a six-year stint at Manchester United where he left as a free agent. Unfortunately, his return to Turin has been marred by persistent injuries, leading to his absence from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In the previous season, Pogba only managed to accumulate 162 minutes across five appearances. Even in the subsequent season leading up to his suspension, he played a mere total of 51 minutes as a substitute. Pogba’s resilience and determination to overcome this adversity are evident, and he looks forward to reuniting with the pitch and fulfilling his footballing ambitions once again.
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