Rome /
The Italian-Brazilian Thiago Motta, coach of Juventus, left this Saturday in the air the future of Frenchman Paul Pogbawho will be able to return to play ahead of schedule after the Court of Arbitration for Sport will reduce the sanction for doping from 4 years to 18 months.
“The club will evaluate what to do with Pogba. For me he has always been a great player. He hasn’t played in a long time,” the coach said at a press conference.
Pogba, who tested positive in September 2023 for DHEAa substance that increases testosterone levels, received an initial sanction of 4 years that seemed to end his sports career. However, after the Italian sports courts upheld the sanction despite appeals, The player took the case to the CAS, who reduced his sanction this Friday, as he himself confirmed with an official statement.
“The nightmare is finally over. “Following the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I look forward to the day when I can pursue my dreams again,” he said.
“I have always maintained that I have never knowingly violated the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency.” when taking a dietary supplement that a doctor prescribed for me and that it does not affect or improve the performance of a male athlete. I play with integrity, even if I have to accept that it is a crime of objective responsibility”, he added.
“It has been a very distressing period of my life, because everything I have done until now has been put on hold. Thanks again for all the love and support. “I can’t wait to get back on the field,” he said.
However, his future could not be in ‘Juve’, with which he has a contract until 2026. The Italian media reported that The club could be thinking about terminating the contract and Motta’s statements point in the same direction.
Furthermore, at this time the player receives the minimum possible salary, about 2 thousand euros per month, so if he returns to activity, the Juventus will have to pay him a million-dollar salary again.
AVV
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