October 4th 2024.
Good news for football fans as Paul Pogba's lengthy doping ban has been significantly reduced. The talented midfielder successfully appealed his four-year ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with his sentence now being reduced to just 18 months. This comes as a huge relief for Pogba, who was facing the possibility of retiring from the sport if his ban was upheld.
Pogba's ban was initially handed down in February of this year after he tested positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone, a compound known for promoting hormone production in the body. However, the 31-year-old was able to prove that he had unknowingly taken the banned substance, leading to a reduction in his ban. He is now free to resume his career at Juventus from March next year and can even start training again in January.
The Frenchman himself has not officially commented on the news, but he did post a picture on Instagram with a sand timer emoji, hinting at his potential return. According to reports, Pogba's appeal took place at the Court of Arbitration for Sport's headquarters in Switzerland back in August. Photographic evidence of a potentially contaminated product played a crucial role in clearing his name.
Pogba's troubles began in September last year when he was provisionally suspended after an adverse finding was discovered in his post-match drug test following Juventus' 3-0 win over Udinese. Although he was named as a substitute for that game, he did not make an appearance. A counter-analysis of the sample also came back positive, leading to anti-doping prosecutors in Italy requesting a four-year suspension for the former Manchester United midfielder. This was accepted by Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal.
After the initial ban, Pogba expressed his sadness, shock, and heartbreak, vowing to clear his name. The midfielder had returned to Juventus after a mixed spell at Manchester United and had been struggling with injuries before his ban. He only made ten appearances in all competitions in his first season back in Italy and played just two games last season before sustaining a back injury.
Upon his return, Pogba will be joining a Juventus side that is currently unbeaten and in second place in the Serie A under the guidance of new manager Thiago Motta. This development is sure to excite Manchester United fans, who have been eagerly waiting for the star midfielder's return. Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive analysis on all things Pogba and Manchester United. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Your privacy is important to us, and this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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