French international footballer Paul Pogba said on Friday that his ordeal was finally over after a four-year ban for doping was halved to 18 months.
Juventus player Pogba who extended his stay with the club until 2026 is expected to be back for competitive football on March 11th next year and before clocking 32 years.
At last, the nightmare is done. There are so many things that I can now look forward to being a part of Mike again,” Pogba said in a statement to Britain’s Press Association.
He stressed that his offense was not predetermined and never used stanozolol with intent to violate the WADA code, which he said has taken with the medical prescription of vitamins and other food supplements. I play with honor, and even though it is a strict liability crime, I hopeless to thank the CAS judges for listening to my side of the story.”
Pogba said it has been an uncomfortable few months as his career and dreams were halted.
That same day, a representative from the Court of Arbitration for Sport said that Pogba’s ban had been cut short. "I can confirm the decision: an 18-month suspension starting from 11th September, 2023. The grounds for the decision will be offered later, was the only explanation given by the CAS spokesperson to AFP.
Pogba later posted on social media, that he was positive for testosterone in August 2023, following a game between Juventus and Udinese. He was provisionally suspended in September and given a four-year ban by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024 The ITA said Ghebru was found to have breached doping rules in June 2022 and that her ban would run until 15 June 2026.
He said that his representatives explained that the testosterone originated from a food supplement that a doctor in the United States had recommended. After the ban, Pogba went to his Instagram account to reveal his emotions stating that he had not intentionally or willingly taken any enhancing substances.
After the CAS ruling, Pogba shared a picture of his foot in football boots and socks – which have his initials, the French flag, and two stars of the World Cup.
The 28-year-old Pogba was instrumental for France in their 2018 World Cup success, but his time at Juve in 2022 has been far from plain sailing. He featured only ten times in the 2022/23 season after suffering a knee injury that saw him miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where France placed second to Argentina.
Also, Pogba was involved in the extortion case, where six men were recently sent to the stand, among them Mathias, his brother.
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