Cas Confirms Reasons Why Paul Pogba’s Doping Ban Was Reduced
Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been reduced from four years to 18 months after he presented experts with evidence supporting his claim of unintentional ingestion of a banned substance, as confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The French international, who plays for Juventus and the national team, was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping organisation (NADO Italia) in September 2023 following a positive test for DHEA, a banned substance known to elevate testosterone levels.
Cas made the decision to shorten the ban last week, bringing relief to Pogba who described it as the end of a “nightmare.” The 31-year-old, contracted with Juventus until June 2026, will be able to return to the pitch in March.
According to Cas, Pogba maintained that the ingestion of DHEA was accidental and occurred after he took a supplement prescribed by a medical professional in Florida. The statement released by Cas mentioned that Pogba had trusted the doctor’s knowledge and expected compliance with anti-doping regulations.
The Cas Panel acknowledged the support for Pogba’s case from several experts, noting that much of the evidence he provided went uncontested. However, they also highlighted that as a professional footballer, Pogba should have exercised more caution in such circumstances.
The World Cup-winning midfielder last featured for Juventus over a year ago in a victory against Empoli. His return to the Italian club after leaving Manchester United in 2022 has been marred by injuries, impacting his performance during this second spell with the team.
Overall, the reduction of Pogba’s ban sheds light on the complexities of anti-doping regulations in sports and the importance of thorough scrutiny in cases involving banned substances.