Reports: Pogba doping ban reduced to 18 months from four years

The doping ban of French footballer Paul Pogba has been slashed from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to British and French news reports on Friday.

The Daily Mail were first to say that the midfielder was successful with his CAS appeal, saying the Juventus midfielder can resume training in January 2025 and play again in March.

The CAS has been contacted by dpa for confirmation.

Pogba was banned for four years until August 2027 by an Italian tribunal in February after testing positive for the banned steroid testosterone at a Serie A match against Udinese in August 2023.

Pogba protested his innocence and appealed at CAS.

The Daily Mail said that according to CAS Pogba inadvertently took in DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone that is on WADA's banned list, via a supplement. It said the ruling after an August hearing said that DHEA only has an affect on females.

Pogba did not comment directly on the reports but posted a photo seemingly showing his lower legs with socks and the PP 6 writing, and a timing clock in the caption as a possible reference to his comeback.