Earlier this year, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba was handed a four-year ban for a doping offense. However, recent developments suggest the Frenchman might return to the pitch sooner than expected.
Pogba was initially suspended by Italy's national anti-doping tribunal (NADO Italia) in September after testing positive for testosterone, a banned substance, following Juventus' match against Udinese on August 20, 2023.
In response to the ban, Pogba stated he would appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, maintaining that he has never knowingly taken any banned substances.
"I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me," Pogba stated in his statement.
"When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations."
Juventus' Paul Pogba has suspension reduced after winning appeal
Initially facing a four-year suspension that threatened his career, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed Mail Sport's report that Pogba is set to return to action in 2025 after his four-year drug ban was reduced to 18 months.
The 2018 World Cup winner can begin training with Juventus in January and be eligible to play in official matches by March. It will be interesting to see what Juventus decides to do and whether or not manager Thiago Motta will count on the midfielder.
🚨 Paul Pogba will be back to action in 2025, confirmed!
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 4, 2024
His 4 year drug ban has been reduced to just 18 months, as @MailSport reported.
Pogba can start training with Juventus in January and then he will be allowed to play official matches by March. pic.twitter.com/THBX9JeXzR
Pogba returned to Juventus in 2022 for a second stint and is under contract with the club until 2026. Last month, a report revealed that the Italian side considered terminating his contract. However, they can only do so for just cause if his appeal doesn’t succeed, which wasn't the case as Pogba's sentence was reduced.
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