Paul Pogba's Doping Ban Reduced to 18 Months: "Nightmare is Over"

Paul Pogba has declared that his “nightmare is over” after successfully appealing a four-year doping ban, which has now been reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The 31-year-old Juventus midfielder is set to resume training in January 2025 and will be eligible to return to play in March.

Pogba, a French international, was initially suspended in February by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) after a drugs test revealed elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone that can enhance endurance. The CAS confirmed that the ban would be effective from September 11, 2023.

In his statement, Pogba expressed relief, saying, “Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.” He maintained that he never knowingly violated World Anti-Doping Agency regulations, attributing the positive test to a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor that he believed did not enhance performance.

“This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold,” he added, thanking the CAS judges for hearing his case.

The former Manchester United midfielder had previously claimed he would “never knowingly or deliberately” dope and considered the initial verdict “incorrect.” Had the original ban remained in place, Pogba would have been sidelined until 2027, when he would be 34 years old.

Pogba was provisionally suspended after a random test following Juventus’ opening match of the 2023-24 season on August 20. The positive result was confirmed in a second sample in October, leading to the anti-doping prosecutor’s office requesting a four-year suspension. His agent, Rafaela Pimenta, stated at the time, “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.”

Rejoining Juventus on a four-year deal in July 2022 after leaving Manchester United, Pogba’s return to Turin has been marred by injury issues, causing him to miss the 2022 World Cup. He managed only 162 minutes across five appearances during the 2022-23 season and had played just 51 minutes as a substitute before his suspension.