Paul Pogba's doping ban has been reduced from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). He is expected to return to football by March 2025 after a successful appeal. Pogba tested positive for DHEA during the 2023/24 season opener.
Paul Pogba is set to make his return to football by March 2025 after the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) reduced his doping ban from four years to just 18 months. This decision comes following a successful appeal against the initial ruling that had sidelined the French midfielder until 2027.
Pogba was provisionally suspended in September 2023 by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) during the opening match of the 2023/24 season. The substance, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), led to elevated testosterone levels in his system. A subsequent test in October confirmed the initial positive result.
In March, Pogba received a four-year ban, but he vowed to appeal the verdict. The CAS ruled that the midfielder had taken DHEA accidentally, noting that the substance primarily benefits female athletes in terms of performance enhancement.
Though Pogba’s ban was officially reduced in August, he was only recently notified of the decision. The 31-year-old had a challenging return to Juventus, participating in just eight Serie A matches, including two since rejoining Manchester United in 2022. Injuries and this ban have significantly impacted his career, but the new ruling offers a glimmer of hope for his return to the pitch.
