French footballer, Paul Pogba, has expressed his delight after the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) minimized the four-year doping ban placed on him by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).
Pogba’s four-year ban for doping was reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal at CAS.
The player had tested positive for DHEA, which was via a supplement he was prescribed and judged to be an inadvertent breach.
CAS also agreed it was not performance-enhancing despite being on WADA’s banned list.
In reacting to the news, Pogba thanked the CAS officials for the ruling, adding that he cannot wait to return to action and play football.
“Finally, the nightmare is over. Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again. I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes.
“I play with integrity, and although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation. Thank you again for all the love and support. I just cannot wait to get back on the pitch,” he said, as shared by British sports journalist Ben Jacobs on X.
Pogba can train with Juventus from January and play from March 2024 if the team agrees to continue with the player, as there have been rumours of contract termination.
Pogba won the 2018 World Cup with France and has played for top European teams, including Manchester United, where he won a trophy.
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Source: www.ghanaweb.com
