Paul Pogba’s Four-Year Doping Ban Reduced to Just 18 Months, Set to Return in March 2025

Pog-Back!! Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in August 2023. However, following a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), the ban has been reduced to just 18 months. This has opened the door for Pogba to return to football as soon as March 2025.

The 31-year-old midfielder tested positive for a banned substance called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the first game of the 2023/24 season. DHEA is a compound that promotes hormone growth in the body, which also includes testosterone –a big no, no in professional sports. Pogba tested positive for the substance after authorities summoned him after Juventus’ tie against Udinese on 20th August. He then made substitute appearances for the Bianconeri against Bologna on 27th August, and against Empoli on 3rd September, before his suspension was announced.  

Paul Pogba has always maintained that he hasn’t taken any banned substance knowingly. Despite this, anti-doping persecutors requested Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) to hand the Frenchman a four-year ban. Paul Pogba chose not to strike a plea deal with the anti-doping agency, which led to his case being brought before the nation's anti-doping tribunal for a full trial. This meant that Pogba would not have returned to football till March 2027. The Frenchman vowed to appeal this decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), and it appears his decision has paid off. CAS ruled that Pogba didn’t intentionally consume a banned substance, leading to his ban being significantly reduced from four years to just 18 months. 

Following this news, Paul Pogba released a statement which read, “Finally the nightmare is over. Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again." The 31-year-old also added, “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. 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. This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold. Thank you again for all the love and support. I just cannot wait to get back on the pitch." 

A four-year doping ban can be shortened if an athlete proves the violation wasn’t intentional, resulted from contamination, or if they offer "substantial assistance" to aid investigators in uncovering further information. So, if everything goes to plan, then Paul Pogba can make his long-awaited return to football on 6th April, when Juventus visit the Stadio Olympico to face AS Roma. 

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