French Midfielder’s Four-Year Ban Slashed to 18 Months by Court of Arbitration for Sport
Paul Pogba, the French World Cup-winning midfielder, has seen his initial four-year doping ban reduced to just 18 months, according to reports. The decision allows Pogba to resume training with Juventus in January 2025 and return to competitive play by March of the same year.
Pogba, who tested positive for the banned substance DHEA in August 2023, was initially staring at a possible early retirement if the full ban had been upheld. The anabolic steroid, which boosts testosterone, is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list.
Since the ban, Pogba’s salary at Juventus was drastically reduced, reportedly leaving him on a “minimum wage” of around £1,700 per month. However, following the reduction in his ban, his lucrative £10.4 million annual salary—equating to approximately £200,000 per week—will be restored once he is cleared to play. This would place him back among Serie A’s highest earners.
The decision to reduce the ban has provided Pogba a lifeline to revive his career at Juventus, where he signed a four-year contract after leaving Manchester United as a free agent. It remains unclear whether Juventus will retain Pogba following this prolonged absence, but the club now has a timeline for his return to action.
In response to the decision, Pogba expressed relief, sharing a heartfelt statement on Instagram:
“Finally, the nightmare is over. Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again. I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor.”
Pogba also thanked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for listening to his explanation and acknowledged the emotional toll the period has taken on him.
“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,” Pogba said.
With his return to professional football in sight, fans and pundits alike are eager to see how Pogba will reintegrate into the Juventus squad after such a lengthy absence.
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