The Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, on Friday, October 4, 2024, announced the reduction of the four-years ban slammed on French international footballer Paul Pogba for doping.
According to CAS spokesperson, Pogba’s four-years ban has been reduced to 18 months.
“I can confirm the decision: an 18-month suspension with effect from September 11, 2023. The reasons for the decision will follow later,” the CAS spokesperson told AFP.
With this development, Pogba, who is under contract with Juventus until 2026, will be able to return to competitive football from March 11 next year.
Recall that Pogba tested positive for testosterone in August 2023, after a match between Juventus and Udinese.
The former Manchester United playmaker was provisionally suspended in September 2023. He was, however, slammed a ban for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal the following February.
Defending the French international, Pogba’s representatives said the testosterone came from a food supplement. They stated that a doctor he consulted in the United States prescribed the supplement.
Reacting to the ban, Pogba posted on his Instagram account that he had “never knowingly or deliberately” taken doping products.
“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me,” he wrote.
Pogba, however, has not reacted to the CAS ruling on Friday. According to AFP, a check on his post revealed no comment. It only showed a close-up of two feet wearing Pogba football boots with socks bearing his initials. The picture was decorated with the French flag and the two World Cup stars.
Recall that Pogba was a key figure when France won the 2018 World Cup title in Russia. He also collected four Serie A titles in his first stint at Juventus. He, however, had a string of problems, on and off the pitch, after his 2022 return from Manchester United.
During the 2022-23 season, Pogba made just 10 appearances for the club. This was mainly due to a knee injury that also ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar. Where France lost out to Argentina in the final in December 2022.
Pogba was also alleged to be the victim of a case of organized extortion. For which six men, including his brother Mathias, were last month ordered to stand trial.
source: AFP
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