Paul Pogba: French soccer star’s doping suspension reduced, set for return in March
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced a significant reduction in French soccer player Paul Pogba’s doping suspension, from an initial four years to 18 months.
This decision follows Pogba’s appeal against the provisional suspension imposed by Italy’s national anti-doping organization (NADO Italia) in September 2023.
“The suspension is now 18 months, starting September 11, 2023,” confirmed CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb.
Pogba, a 31-year-old France international and Juventus midfielder, tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance that increases testosterone levels, after Juventus’s 3-0 Serie A win over Udinese on August 20, 2023. The doping test revealed “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites” consistent with external origin.
Pogba denied any wrongdoing and appealed to CAS in February. The reduced suspension allows him to return to the field sooner, as his contract with Juventus runs until June 2026.
The France international’s doping saga began when NADO Italia provisionally suspended him in September 2023.
Pogba maintained his innocence throughout the process, leading to the successful appeal to CAS. With the reduced suspension, Pogba’s focus shifts to reintegrating into the Juventus squad and regaining his form on the pitch.
