Paul Pogba handed new date to return to football as doping ban significantly reduced
The Juventus midfielder, formerly the world's most expensive player when joining Manchester United for £89million and a World Cup winner with France, has always maintained he had inadvertently taken DHEA
by Alex Richards · The MirrorPaul Pogba will be back in action in March 2025 - after the Court of Arbitration for Sport slashed his drugs ban.
The former Manchester United star, currently on the books of Juventus, had been looking at the end of his career if CAS upheld the four-year suspension that was dished out in February.
Pogba was provisionally suspended last September after failing a drugs test. He had tested positive for DHEA following Juventus' meeting with Udinese last August. DHEA is a banned substance that boosts endogenous testosterone. A secondary sample also returned a positive result.
Pogba and his camp have always maintained that the taking of any prohibited substance was never intentional. His lawyers had rejected a plea deal after claiming he had unwittingly ingested the drug via a supplement, thus causing the positive test.
Speaking at the time of the initial suspension, Pogba's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said: "What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule."
Pogba confirmed he would appeal the decision at the CAS, adding he would tell his full story "when I am free of legal restrictions".
Now in their final judgment, as first reported by the Daily Mail, the CAS have confirmed that Pogba did inadvertently take DHEA - on WADA's banned list.
A four-year anti-doping ban can be reduced in cases where an athlete can prove it was not intentional, was the result of contamination, or if they can provide "substantial assistance" to help investigators.
As such, his punishment has been greatly reduced, with Pogba's four-year ban reduced to 18 months. That means he will be able to return to professional action in March. The 31-year-old, it's understood, will be allowed to return to training in January.
The CAS have been contacted for comment.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches 'lowest price' Premier League package
£43 (was £52)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £216 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
With Ultra HD included at no extra cost, football fans can enjoy the 2024/25 season with crystal clear picture quality.