Paul Pouba, the 31-year-old French star, has finally turned the corner after enduring a four-year ban sentence from Italian drug banning organization Nado. His appeal at the International Court of Arbitration for Sport was successful and his sentence was reduced to 18 months. The decision means that Pouba, who has been serving a ban that has been enforced since September 11 last year, will see a return to action in March next year.
Puba expressed his joy on social networks: "The nightmare is finally over and I am eager to chase my dreams again. I have always maintained my innocence and participated in the game with sincerity, and I thank the International Court of Arbitration for Sport for giving me the opportunity to explain. The period of suspension was the most painful time in my life and all my efforts seemed to have come to naught. Thank you again to all those who cared and supported me and I can't wait to get back on the pitch."
It is reported that Puba's monthly salary during his suspension was as low as 2,000 euros (about HK$17,000), while his annual salary is expected to be as high as 8 million euros (about HK$68,000) upon his return.
Paul Puba moved to Juventus from Manchester United in July 2022, only to be plagued by injuries and make only 12 appearances all season. Last August, in a Serie A match against Udinese, even though he only came on as a substitute, a post-match drug test showed excessive testosterone. Puba had explained that he might have mistakenly taken a supplement containing a banned substance, but was eventually given a four-year ban. Now, with the sentence reduced, he is expected to join Zuyundas' training next January and make his comeback in March.
