Paul Pogba: ‘Nightmare Is Over’ After Ban Reduction

Paul Pogba has expressed relief, stating that his “nightmare is over” after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his four-year doping ban. The CAS cut the ban to 18 months following his successful appeal. The 31-year-old Juventus midfielder can resume training in January 2025 and will be eligible to play again from March. Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) suspended Pogba in February after a drug test revealed elevated testosterone levels in his system.

CAS director general Matthieu Reeb confirmed that the ban reduced from September 11, 2023. In a statement, Pogba said, “Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.” He reiterated that he never knowingly violated World Anti-Doping Agency regulations and took a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor, emphasizing that it did not enhance performance.

The former Manchester United star described this period as distressing, as everything he worked for was put on hold. Pogba took his case to CAS and personally presented evidence at a hearing earlier this summer. He had previously asserted he would “never knowingly or deliberately” engage in doping and believed the initial verdict was “incorrect.” If the original four-year ban had stayed in place, the 2018 World Cup winner would have faced sidelining until 2027.

At that time, he would have been 34 years old. Paul Pogba received a provisional suspension in September 2023 after a random test following Juventus’ first match of the 2023-24 season on August 20. The second sample confirmed the positive result in October which led the anti-doping prosecutor’s office to request the lengthy suspension. Juventus re-signed Pogba on a four-year deal in July 2022 after he became a free agent from Manchester United.

However, injuries have plagued his return, causing him to miss the 2022 World Cup and limiting his appearances in subsequent seasons.