French international footballer Paul Pogba has had his initial four-year ban for doping reduced to 18 months, according to a spokesperson from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The suspension will take effect from September 11, 2023, allowing Pogba to return to competitive football on March 11, 2025, just days before his 32nd birthday.
Pogba tested positive for testosterone following a match between Juventus and Udinese in August 2023. He faced a provisional suspension in September of that year and was subsequently handed a four-year ban by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024. His representatives claimed that the testosterone was sourced from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States.
Following the initial ban, Pogba expressed his dismay on social media, stating he had “never knowingly or deliberately” taken banned substances. In a poignant Instagram post, he shared his feelings of sadness and heartbreak over the situation, reflecting on the impact on his professional career.
After the CAS ruling, Pogba’s response was minimalist, featuring a close-up image of his football boots adorned with his initials and the French flag, symbolizing his storied career.
Pogba, a key player in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, has faced numerous challenges since rejoining Juventus in 2022, including injuries and off-field issues. In the 2022-23 season, he managed only 10 appearances due to a knee injury that also kept him out of the World Cup in Qatar, where France finished as runners-up to Argentina.
Compounding his troubles, Pogba was also involved in an organized extortion case, with six individuals, including his brother Mathias, ordered to stand trial last month.
