Paul Pogba has broken his silence after his four-year ban for doping in football was reduced.
Following appeal, Pogba’s suspension was reduced from four years to just 18 months, clearing the way for him to play again in March.
The former Manchester United midfielder took to social media shortly after Mail Sport exclusively broke the news and shared a cryptic post seemingly addressing the announcement.
On his . years.
His return date was set for 18 months after the ban was originally imposed in September 2023. He will be able to return to training in January, before playing matches from March.
Paul Pogba breaks his silence after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months
The midfielder will be able to return to training in January and play in March after the sanction is shortened
The midfielder took to social media to share a post after Mail Sport’s exclusive story appeared featuring a pair of Tapedesign socks adorned with the French flag.
In the final ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport it was confirmed that Pogba did inadvertently take DHEA, a substance that increases testosterone and is on WADA’s list of prohibited substances.
Most importantly, however, the ruling states that DHEA only affects women.
Pogba later issued a statement in which the French World Cup winner celebrated the end of “the nightmare.”
‘Finally the nightmare is over.
‘Following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.
‘I have always said that I never deliberately violated the World Anti-Doping Agency rules when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor, which does not affect or improve the performance of male athletes.
“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a crime of strict liability, I want to record my gratitude to the judges of the Court of Arbitration for Sport who listened to my explanation.
‘This has been a tremendously 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 can’t wait to get back on the field.”
The former Manchester United midfielder faced possible retirement if the ban was upheld.
Pogba won the World Cup with France in 2018 as a key part of Didier Deschamps’ team
Pogba’s appeal took place at CAS headquarters in Switzerland at the end of August and the player has only recently been informed of the verdict.
The former Manchester United midfielder received a suspension after playing for Juventus in their first match of the 2023-24 season against Udinese on August 20.
Mail Sport revealed in May that a US clinic 10X Health Systems is at the center of Pogba’s ongoing fight to clear his name, with the company named in the midfielder’s appeal submissions.
It is understood that there is photographic evidence of the 10X Health Systems name appearing on the label of at least one of the pill bottles received by Pogba.
