French midfielder Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been reduced from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Pogba, who plays for Juventus, was suspended in September 2023 after testing positive for DHEA, a banned substance that increases testosterone levels. The CAS ruling stated that the test results showed prohibited non-endogenous testosterone metabolites, indicating an external source of the compounds. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Pogba’s suspension will now end on September 11, 2023.
Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, stated that Pogba never intended to break the rules, and the player himself has vowed to share his full story once legal restrictions are lifted. In a social media post, Pogba shared a picture of himself wearing personalized PP6 socks adorned with the French flag and two stars representing their World Cup victories, along with an hourglass emoji. The 31-year-old midfielder has a contract with Juventus until June 2026. The doping test was conducted after a 3-0 victory over Udinese in the Serie A season opener.
The reduction of Pogba’s suspension will allow him to return to play sooner than expected. The ruling by CAS signifies a compromise between the initial ban and Pogba’s appeal for leniency. The midfielder will now begin the process of serving his remaining suspension and working towards his return to professional football.
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