The Court of Arbitration has officially shortened Paul Pogba’s four-year football suspension for doping for Sport (CAS).
The 31-year-old was placed on suspension last year when it was discovered that he had dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance that stimulates the body’s production of hormones, including testosterone.
Pogba issued a statement following his punishment in which he denied ‘knowingly or deliberately taking any substances that breach anti-doping laws’ and declared his intention to file an appeal.
After reviewing the appeal, CAS lowered the length of his ban from four years to eighteen months.
According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, the latest ruling permits him to start training again in January before becoming eligible to play in March.
Pogba has maintained his Juventus contract despite his initial four-year suspension, meaning he will be eligible to play for Thiago Motta’s team later in the season.
His most recent game was in September 2023, when he came on as a substitute in the second half of Juventus’ 2-0 victory over Empoli.
He had been selected for random testing two weeks following a match against Udinese, for which he was not utilized as a substitute.
After that positive test for DHEA, his B sample then returned a positive result in October.
