‘Nightmare is over,’ Pogba breaks silence after reduced drug ban

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has expressed relief after his doping ban was reduced from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The 31-year-old was originally sanctioned in March after receiving a provisional suspension in September of the previous year, having tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Pogba, the former Manchester United player, appealed the decision and successfully secured a reduction in his suspension, paving the way for his return to action in March next year.

“Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again,” Pogba said in a statement. He maintained that he never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations when he took a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance male athletes’ performance.

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“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation.”

He described the ordeal as “a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”

Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal issued the ban, a standard length stipulated by the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA), but there is provision for it to be reduced if the athlete can prove the breach was not intentional, was the result of contamination or they provide “substantial assistance” to investigators.

CAS director general Matthieu Reeb informed The Guardian: “The suspension is now 18 months, starting September 11 2023.”

‘Nightmare is over,’ Pogba breaks silence after reduced drug ban

I will only play for Napoli until 2025 – Lukaku tells Belgian federation

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku has informed the Belgian federation that he won’t play for his national team until the new year as he’s entirely focused on his new club.

Lukaku won’t play for the Belgium national team again in 2024. The striker has reportedly informed his federation that he wants to focus solely on his new club, Napoli, until 2025.

Lukaku has not been included in the Belgium squad for upcoming Nations League games against Italy and France.

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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lukaku decided not to play international games until the new year as he needed time to settle in at his new club.

Lukaku joined Antonio Conte’s Napoli on a permanent transfer from Chelsea last summer and has scored two goals in five appearances across all competitions this term, providing three assists.

The 31-year-old, a former Inter and Roma striker, has 85 goals in 119 appearances with the Belgium national team

I will only play for Napoli until 2025 – Lukaku tells Belgian federation

Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games

France captain Kylian Mbappe has been left out of his team’s UEFA Nations League matches this month after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday named his squad.

The Real Madrid star returned from a short spell on the sidelines, with a thigh injury, to appear as a substitute in the surprise 1-0 defeat at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday.

However, the 25-year-old will play no part in France’s games against Israel and Belgium, a decision clearly made in order to allow Mbappe to rest and work on his fitness.

“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps told reporters in Paris.

France play Israel on Thursday, October 10 in an away fixture moved to Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East.

Les Bleus, Nations League winners in 2021, will then take on Belgium in Brussels on Monday, October 14.

France have three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.

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Thursday’s squad announcement was the first by Deschamps since vice-captain Antoine Griezmann retired from international football at the beginning of this week.

“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said of losing Griezmann, who quit aged 33 after winning 137 caps.

“I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”

Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who won the last of his 10 caps in June last year, returns to the squad, from which midfielder N’Golo Kante is also left out.

France squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan/ITA), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani (all Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea/ENG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)

Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games