Paul Pogba eager for football return after doping ban reduced

French international Paul Pogba has expressed his eagerness to return to football following the reduction of his doping ban from four years to 18 months.

Speaking to L’Equipe television from the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, Pogba likened football to a “strawberry cake” that had been taken away from him, but he is now determined to make his comeback.

Pogba, who is currently under contract with Juventus until 2026, will be eligible to return to competitive action on March 11, 2025, just before his 32nd birthday. The midfielder, capped 91 times for France, was initially suspended after testing positive for testosterone following a match between Juventus and Udinese in August 2023.

The initial four-year ban, imposed by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024, was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in October. Pogba’s team argued that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor in the U.S.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Pogba remarked, “The nightmare is over,” and he is “really looking forward to coming back.” When asked about a potential move to Ligue 1, Pogba hinted at the possibility, saying, “Why not?”

Pogba, who was instrumental in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, has faced numerous challenges since his return to Juventus in 2022, including injuries and off-field issues, such as an extortion case involving his brother, Mathias.