His chances of returning to active duty have been revived. Paul Pogba (31, Juventus), the ‘bad boy and genius’, has just had his disciplinary period shortened.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed the anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) committed by Pogba, but reduced his suspension from four years to 18 months, the organization announced today.
CAS stated that it had “reached a decision on the appeal lodged by Mr. Pogba. He has been sanctioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for an ADRV while taking dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). “The CAS panel partially upheld Pogba’s appeal in this matter,” said CAS President, Dr. Michael M. Krebs. ”He was suspended for four years from September 11, 2023, and fined €5,000 (approximately $7.4 million). The ADRV was upheld, but the sanction was reduced to an 18-month suspension and the fine was canceled.”
Here’s why CAS reduced Pogba’s punishment.
According to the ruling, the CAS panel found evidence and legal arguments that Pogba’s ingestion of the DHEA he tested positive for was unintentional and the result of a misuse of a supplement prescribed by a doctor in Florida.
CAS said: “Pogba was assured that the doctor would be mindful of his anti-doping obligations as he claimed to have treated several international athletes. “The Italian National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) argued that the player’s recklessness was serious and that a four-year suspension was justified. However, Pogba was supported by several experts. Much of the evidence he presented was not refuted. Of course, he is not without fault, and as a professional athlete, he should have taken more care,” the court explained in its ruling.
The case began last September. 토토사이트 Pogba was tested for doping after Juventus’ 3-0 win over Udinese, and it was discovered that he had a problem with his testosterone levels.
Testosterone is a male hormone that increases endurance in athletes and is one of the most common banned substances.
A spokesperson for NADO explained that Pogba’s sample was found to contain “non-tolerated testosterone metabolites,” which are banned substances, and therefore violated the anti-doping rules.
Pogba protested his innocence, saying he had never knowingly taken the substance, and requested a second analysis of the positive test, which came back equally positive. Both samples showed DHEA, which stimulates the production of testosterone and other hormones. DHEA was once referred to as the “fountain of youth,” and it has anti-aging and muscle-building properties.
An unsuspecting supplement turned into a scandal. “A source told ESPN that Pogba was prescribed the food supplement by one of his friends who is a doctor in Miami, USA. The particular supplement is available in the U.S., but not in Italy,” according to ESPN.
Instead of taking a plea deal with the NADO, Pogba opted to go to trial before the CAS, which partially accepted his appeal, citing his non-sexuality and the fact that DHEA affects women as mitigating factors.
Now, Pogba will be able to play soccer again from March 2025, when he”ll be 32 years old.
His chances of returning to active duty have been revived. If it had been a four-year suspension, he would have had to wait until he was 34 to return to the pitch, but the two-and-a-half years reduction has opened up a new path. However, his contract with Juventus will most likely be terminated by mutual consent.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail, Pogba said, “The nightmare is over. I’m looking forward to living my dream again. I insist that I never knowingly violated anti-doping rules, I have always acted honestly and I thank CAS for listening to my explanations.” ”It was a very painful period in my life. I thank you for all the love and I can’t wait to get back on the pitch.”
Pogba is a midfielder who was once considered a global prodigy. He spread his wings at Juventus and became a world-class player before moving to Manchester United for £89 million in 2016, breaking the club’s transfer record. He went on to win the 2018 World Cup in Russia with the French national team.