The Popular Paul Pogba Uncommonly Happy Over Something (Find Out What It Is).
France international and Juventus star, Paul Pogba, has succeeded in having his four-year doping ban reduced to 18 months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS.
In other words, he’s warming up to shine and smile again.
This is why he’s uncommonly happy.
The Popular Paul Pogba Uncommonly Happy Over Something (Find Out What It Is)
Initially suspended in September 2023 after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the midfielder was facing the possibility of not returning to football until 2027.
However, after this latest ruling, he will be eligible to resume playing in March 2025.
Upon hearing the verdict, the young man expressed his relief, stating, “Finally, the nightmare is over.
Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.”
Pogba had tested positive for DHEA, a substance that promotes hormone production, including testosterone, following Juventus’ opening match of the 2023/24 season.
Although he did not play in that match, he featured in subsequent games before his suspension was announced.
In his statement, Pogba maintained that he never knowingly violated anti-doping rules. He clarified that the positive test result came from a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor.
I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes,” he explained.
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,” Pogba added.
The former Manchester United player’s suspension dates to September 2023, when he was provisionally banned after the positive test for DHEA—a compound that boosts hormone production in the body.
Following an analysis and a counter-analysis that confirmed the results, anti-doping prosecutors requested the maximum four-year ban in December.
Pogba opted not to enter a plea bargain, allowing his case to be heard in court.
With the Lausanne, Switzerland-based CAS decision, the €5,000 (£4,179) fine initially imposed on Pogba has been lifted, and he will now be allowed to return to the field in early 2025.
Reflecting on the challenging months since his suspension, Pogba remarked, “This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.
Thank you again for all the love and support. I just cannot wait to get back on the pitch.”
According to anti-doping rules, a four-year ban can be reduced if an athlete can prove the violation was unintentional or caused by contamination.
Pogba’s defence hinged on the fact that the nutritional supplement he consumed only affects testosterone levels in females, making his case for an unintentional breach.
Nevertheless, under WADA regulations, athletes are responsible for everything they ingest.
With his suspension shortened, Pogba is now focused on getting back to football and putting the ordeal behind him.
The Popular Paul Pogba Uncommonly Happy Over Something (Find Out What It Is).
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Story by Ned Allison. Ned is a contributor to Soccer Fans Arena.
