CAS gives reason for lifting Pogba’s doping ban
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) says Paul Pogba’s doping ban was reduced from four years to 18 months after it accepted his argument that he unknowingly ingested a banned substance.
The Juventus midfielder, who tested positive for testosterone in August 2023, will now be eligible to play again in March 2025.
According to CAS, Pogba should have exercised greater caution, but his claim that the offense was unintentional was taken into account.
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The 31-year-old former Manchester United player attributed the positive test to a supplement prescribed by a doctor in Florida, which he took in error.
CAS partially upheld Pogba’s appeal, reducing the sanction but acknowledging that he was not without fault.
The decision can be appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds. Pogba was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after being randomly tested following Juventus’ first match of the 2023-24 season.
While reacting to the decision to reduce the ban, Pogba said, “Finally the nightmare is over.”.
“I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.
“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation.
“This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”
