Paul Pogba could make his long-awaited return to football THIS season after his four-year ban was reduced.
The former Manchester United star was handed the lengthy ban for doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
This came after the midfielder tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in his system.
However upon appeal, that ban has now been reduced to just 18 months by CAS, as per reports from the Daily Mail.
It means that the Juventus star will be able to return to first team training in January, before being eligible to play in competitive matches in March.
Despite being handed a four-year ban, the Italian giants kept the faith with the French star and could now reap the benefits before the end of the campaign.
Pogba was randomly tested after Juve’s first match of the season, a 3-0 win at Udinese in August 2023.
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He was then handed the suspension in September last year, meaning that he has now served 15 months of the ban.
The 31-year-old vehemently denied any wrongdoing, with Pogba and his team immediately demanding counter-analysis to be carried out.
In a statement at the time, Pogba said: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.
“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.
“When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.
“As a professional athlete I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and have never disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the teams I have played for, or against.
As a consequence of the decision announced today I will appeal this before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
Pogba, who joined Manchester United for £90million, returned to Juventus in the summer of 2022 but made just 10 appearances in his first season back at the club.
Despite that, the midfielder has enjoyed a stellar career in which he won four Serie A titles with the Old Lady.
He also won the Europa League with Man United and finished as runner-up in the 2015 Champions League final with Juve.
