By Nfor Tracy
Journalist,kick42.com- Cameroon
- Paul Pogba has been relieved of his 18-month ban
- The 31-year-old was initially banned for four years, which was later slashed to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sports
- Pogba’s doping ban resulted from his testing positive for testosterone in August, following a match between Juventus and Udinese
Paul Pogba is officially eligible to play football again, marking his return to the pitch after serving an 18-month doping ban. The 31-year-old midfielder was initially banned for four years but was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Pogba’s doping ban stemmed from a positive test for testosterone in August 2023, following a match between Juventus and Udinese in Italy. He was provisionally suspended in September 2023 and later banned for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024.
Pogba maintained that the testosterone intake was unintentional, resulting from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States. The footballer expressed concerns that the ban would harm his career, potentially causing him to miss the 2026 World Cup with the French team.
The former Manchester United and Juventus player is now a free agent after being released from his contract with Juventus earlier this season. He has been linked to several clubs, including Olympique Marseille, as well as teams in MLS and the Saudi Pro League.
As Pogba returns to competitive cycle, he is poised to make a comeback just four days before his 32nd birthday.
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