CAS explains why Paul Pogba’s sanction was reduced

Tested positive for testosterone metabolites on September 11, 2023, after a match against Udinese (where he did not even come on), Paul Pogba saw his career come to an abrupt end on February 29, 2024. Suspended for four years, the French midfielder was then announced to retire. Yes, but now, while the Pogba clan had quickly appealed, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finally agreed to reduce its sanction to eighteen months, last Friday. Consequence: Pogba will be able to play again from March 2025.

In a press release published this Monday, the CAS also justified its decision. While it appears clear that the intake of DHEA was prescribed by an American doctor, who should have informed Pogba of the consequences of these supplements, the Italian anti-doping agency demanded a 4-year suspension, and Pogba requested only 1 year. “Most of the evidence put forward by Pogba has not been denied” by the opposing party, explains the body in particular, specifying also that Pogba is responsible in this story and, “as a professional football player, should have paid more attention to the circumstances”.

The full press release

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the appeal filed by football player Paul Pogba (the Player) against the decision rendered on February 28, 2024 by the National Anti-Doping Tribunal of the Italian National Anti-Doping Agency ( ONAD Italia) (the Contested Decision), in which he was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) (DHEA, classified as a “non-endogenous metabolite of testosterone” by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA )) and sanctioned with a period of suspension of four years from September 11, 2023 and a fine of EUR 5,000. The CAS Panel in charge of the case partially upheld the appeal filed by Paul Pogba. It confirmed the ADRV but reduced the sanction imposed on the Player to a period of suspension of 18 months, starting on September 11, 2023, and canceled the fine. The reasoned arbitral decision, with the reasons for the Panel’s decision, will be communicated to the parties as soon as possible. The CAS Panel provided the following information regarding its decision: “The CAS Panel based its decision on the evidence and legal arguments put forward that Mr. Pogba’s ingestion of DHEA, the substance for which he was tested positive, was unintentional and resulted from mistakenly taking a supplement prescribed to him by a doctor in Florida, after Mr Pogba was assured that the doctor, who had said he was treating several American athletes and high-level internationals, was knowledgeable and would take into account Mr. Pogba’s anti-doping obligations under the World Anti-Doping Code. Mr Pogba requested a sanction of only 12 months in recognition of the existence of some fault on his part (he did not ask the CAS Panel for a determination of absence of fault or negligence). NADO Italia argued that the Player’s recklessness was serious and justified a 4-year ban. Mr Pogba’s case has been supported by several experts. Most of the evidence provided by Mr Pogba has not been disputed. The decision of the CAS Panel is final and binding, except for the right of the parties to appeal to the Swiss Federal Court within 30 days on limited grounds..