CAS reduces footballer Paul Pogba's doping ban from 4 years to 18 months

Paul Pogba has had his four-year ban for doping reduced to 18 months after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The ruling means the France World Cup winner will be free to resume his career in March 2025.

CAS confirmed earlier reports that the ban was reduced when approached by The Associated Press on Friday. CAS did not elaborate on the decision.

Finally the nightmare is over, Pogba said in a statement. Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.

The Juventus midfielder tested positive for testosterone in August last year and was handed the maximum punishment by Italy's anti-doping court.

At the time, Pogba said the verdict is incorrect and appealed to the Switzerland-based CAS.

Four-year bans are standard under the world anti-doping code but can be reduced in cases where an athlete can prove their doping was not intentional, if the positive test was a result of contamination or if th