Juventus star Paul Pogba proclaims his ‘nightmare is over’ as his four-year doping ban is reduced

News Desk
Paul Pogba looks dejected during a warm-up.
Paul Pogba looks dejected during a warm-up.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba says his “nightmare is over” after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his four-year doping ban to 18 months.

The 31-year-old former Manchester United star was sanctioned in March after he was provisionally suspended in September last year. This came as he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

However, Pogba submitted an appeal and it was revealed on Friday that he has been successful in getting his suspension reduced to allow him to start playing again from March next year.

“Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again,” the player said in a statement.

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“I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes.

“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation.

“This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”

Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal issued the ban, a standard length stipulated by the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA), but there is provision for it to be reduced if the athlete can prove the breach was not intentional, was the result of contamination or they provide “substantial assistance” to investigators.

CAS director general Matthieu Reeb told The Guardian: “The suspension is now 18 months, starting September 11 2023.”