Good news for football and Paul Pogba’s fans: The Frenchman is set to return to action after successfully appealing his 4-year doping ban.
He was handed a four-year ban in February this year after testing positive in September 2023, in the first game of the 2023/24 season, for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Since then, his career has been on hold. His management team filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to have the ban reduced. The World Cup winner was set to play football again in 2027, but his successful appeal could see him return early next year.
“Finally the nightmare is over,” said Pogba in a statement. “Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.”
“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.”
Repercussions of His Ban
Following the ban, Pogba was fined €5,000 (£4,179). The fine will officially be set aside when CAS announces the ban reduction on Monday.
According to the BBC, Pogba’s salary was significantly reduced to 2,400 euros per month after he was provisionally suspended.
Juventus were also reportedly preparing to terminate his contract had the CAS upheld the four-year ban.
The French international suffered mentally, noting that this has been a very distressing period in his life. To watch everything he has always worked so hard for, being put on hold.
How He Got Suspended
Pogba, 31, tested positive for DHEA – a compound that promotes the production of hormones in the body including testosterone – following Juventus’ game at Udinese on August 20.
The former Manchester United star opened up that he didn’t knowingly breach the World Anti-Doping Agency regulations.
He admits taking a nutritional supplement, prescribed by his doctor, which according to him, does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes.
Pogba’s counter-analysis of his positive doping test also returned a positive result.
Pogba’s legal team argued that the supplement causes the body to naturally produce testosterone but it has been proven that it only boosts testosterone levels in females.
Reports say that a four-year ban can be reduced if:
- the athlete can prove it wasn’t intentional
- was caused by contamination
- can provide “substantial assistance” to investigators.
Pogba’s Way Forward
The former France international is now getting ready to return to play with the Italian giants, Juventus, again.
He left Juventus in 2016 to rejoin Man United. Pogba returned to Juventus in the summer of 2022 after leaving Man United. He was not 100% fit then, as he was hampered by injuries.
He has helped Juventus win four Serie A titles and helped them reach the 2015 Champions League final.
His return is not seamless. He has to wait until January to train and March to play. He has been keeping fit at home following his own personal training plan.
