- Reacting to the verdict of the arbitration court and success of his appeal, Pogba expressed relief, describing the period of the doping ordeal as a nightmare
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has reacted to the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce his doping ban from four years to 18 months.
The 31-year-old was initially sanctioned in March after receiving a provisional suspension in September of the previous year, having tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Pogba, former Manchester United player, appealed the decision and successfully secured a reduction in his suspension.
This development will now see him return to action in March next year.
Reacting to the verdict of the arbitration court and success of his appeal, Pogba expressed relief, describing the period of the doping ordeal as a nightmare which has now ended.
“Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again,” Pogba said in a statement.
He insisted that he did not wittingly violated World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations when he consumed a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance male athletes’ performance.
“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.”
He described the travail as “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 informed The Guardian: “The suspension is now 18 months, starting September 11 2023