Paul Pogba’s four-year ban from football for doping violations has been reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Soccernet.football reports.
The former Manchester United midfielder tested positive for testosterone metabolites in August 2023, resulting in a lengthy four-year suspension which seemingly spelled the end of his rollercoaster career.
However, with the reduced ban, the 31-year-old will be eligible to return to Juventus in March 2025, having initially faced a ban from all football-related activities until August 2027.
Italy’s anti-doping agency had sought the maximum four-year ban after Pogba’s failed test, but the French midfielder maintained his innocence, asserting that he had never knowingly taken any substances that breached anti-doping rules.
The CAS ruling to reduce his ban means we could potentially see Pogba in Juventus colours before the end of the 2024/2025 season. His return could also end retirement rumors, which the Frenchman had denied in July while continuing to fight his case.
Pogba enjoyed great success during his first spell at Juventus, winning four consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2016 and receiving the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2013.
The Man United academy graduate rejoined his boyhood club in 2016 for a then-world-record fee of £89 million, winning Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Juventus re-signed Pogba on a four-year deal in July 2022 after he ran down his contract at Old Trafford, leaving the club as a free agent following six years.
However, his return to Turin has been marred by recurring injury issues, which also caused him to miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
During the 2022/2023 season, Pogba played just 162 minutes across five appearances and had managed only 51 minutes as a substitute in the following season before his suspension.