Paul Pogba has expressed his relief at the decision to reduce his doping ban from four years to 18 months, declaring the “nightmare is over”.
Pogba played 233 times for Manchester United between 2016 and 2022, winning the Europa League and EFL Cup titles.
The 91-time France international, who won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus, returned to Juventus in the summer of 2022, but to say his return to Turin has not worked out would be an understatement.
Pogba played just 10 games in all competitions in 2022/23 due to knee surgery and various other injuries. And then, after playing just two games, the midfielder’s 2023/24 campaign was derailed after he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Pogba faced an existential threat to his career, with a four-year ban meaning he would not return to action until he was 34, putting early retirement very much on the table.
Pogba then strongly refuted the test result and vowed to clear his name. Now, it has been vindicated by the Sports Arbitration Court (TAS) ruling that is his the ban should be reduced to just 18 months.
Pogba will be able to return to training in January, while he can start playing again for Juventus, who have kept him, in March.
Paul Pogba reacts to the CAS ruling
Pogba has issued a statement expressing his relief at the CAS ruling and saying he “can’t wait to get back on the pitch”.
“Finally, the nightmare is over,” Pogba said (via Fabrizio Romano). “I can wait for the day when I can follow my dreams again.
“I always stated that I never knowingly violated the anti-doping rules, I play with integrity and I want to thank the Court of Arbitration for listening to my explanation.
? Paul Pogba: “Finally, the nightmare is over.”
“I can wait for the day when I can follow my dreams again.”
“I always stated that I never knowingly violated anti-doping rules, I play with integrity and I want to thank the Court of Arbitration for hearing my… pic.twitter.com/oFl48oSQdS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 4, 2024
“This has been a very distressing period in my life because everything I’ve worked so hard for has been put on hold.
“Thank you for all the love and support.
“Can’t wait to get back on the pitch!”
Top photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
