The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially announced its decision regarding Paul Pogba’s appeal against his doping ban. The French midfielder’s The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially announced its decision regarding Paul Pogba’s appeal against his doping ban. T, imposed by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal on February 28, 2024, has been reduced to 18 months.
Pogba was found guilty of violating anti-doping regulations due to the presence of DHEA, a substance classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as a “non-endogenous testosterone metabolite.” The original ruling included a four-year ban starting from September 11, 2023, and a €5,000 fine.
The CAS panel partially upheld Pogba’s appeal, confirming the anti-doping rule violation but reducing the suspension period to 18 months, still commencing from September 11, 2023. The fine has been annulled.
In its decision, CAS considered that Pogba’s ingestion of DHEA was unintentional and resulted from an error in taking a supplement prescribed by a doctor in Florida. Pogba had received assurances from this doctor, who claimed expertise in dealing with high-level athletes and knowledge of anti-doping regulations.
Pogba’s legal team sought a reduction to a 12-month ban, acknowledging some fault but not pursuing a complete exoneration. On the other hand, NADO Italia argued for maintaining the four-year suspension, citing the player’s conduct as reckless and severe.
The CAS panel, while not absolving Pogba of all responsibility, recognized that as a professional athlete, he should have exercised greater caution. However, they deemed the circumstances warranted a reduction in the ban.
This decision is final and binding, with the only possibility of appeal being to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days, and only on limited grounds. The reduction to 18 months is a significant outcome for Pogba, allowing him to return to competitive football earlier than initially expected.
