Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), down from the initial four-year ban. The France international was initially suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping organization in September 2023 after testing positive for DHEA, a banned substance that increases testosterone levels. Pogba, who has denied any wrongdoing, has a contract with Juventus until June 2026 and had vowed to appeal the ban to Cas.
The tribunal found that Pogba had prohibited “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites” in his system, suggesting an external source for the banned substances. Pogba’s agent had previously stated that the player did not intentionally break any rules. Upon hearing the news of the reduced suspension, Pogba expressed relief on social media, sharing a picture of himself with personalized socks and a message of looking forward to the day when he can pursue his dreams again.
Pogba maintained that he never knowingly violated anti-doping regulations and had only taken a supplement prescribed by a doctor that did not enhance his performance. The player described the suspension as a distressing period in his life, putting his career on hold. Despite the setback, Pogba remains optimistic about his future in football and is eager to put this chapter behind him.
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