Paul Pogba, Juventus midfielder and former Manchester United player, has expressed his relief after his four-year ban for a doping offence was reduced to 18 months. The reduction followed a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The ban, which was initially handed down by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado), came after Pogba tested positive for elevated testosterone levels in a drugs test taken in August 2023.
Pogba has consistently maintained that he did not knowingly violate any anti-doping regulations. In a statement following the reduction of his ban, he reiterated that he had taken a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor and emphasized that he never intended to breach World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. He also noted that the supplement in question does not enhance male athletes’ performance. While acknowledging his responsibility under the “strict liability” rule, Pogba thanked the CAS judges for understanding his position.
The France World Cup winner had described the situation as one of the most distressing periods in his life, saying it put everything he had worked for on hold. Without the reduction, Pogba would have been ineligible to play football until 2027, a situation he said would have significantly impacted his career. Pogba presented his case in person to CAS earlier in 2024, where he continued to argue that the initial verdict had been incorrect.
Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, echoed his stance, stating that her client never had any intention of breaking anti-doping rules.
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