Grapevine

'Finally, the nightmare is over,' Pogba reacts to reduced drug ban

“Finally, the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again,” Pogba said, as quoted by sports journalist Fabrizio Romano on Friday.

The Juventus midfielder had been handed a four-year ban by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2023, after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels following a Juventus-Udinese match in August.

Pogba, however, has consistently maintained his innocence, stating that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States, which he had unknowingly taken.

“I always stated that I never knowingly breached anti-doping regulations. I play with integrity, and I want to thank the Court of Arbitration who heard my explanation,” Pogba added.

Pogba’s ban now runs from September 11, 2023, meaning he will be eligible to return to competitive football on March 11, 2025, just days before his 32nd birthday.