'I'm Not a Cheater' - Pogba Reflects on Doping Ban

‘I’m Not a Cheater’ – Pogba Reflects on Doping Ban

Paul Pogba has broken his silence on his doping ban, vehemently denying intentional wrongdoing and expressing gratitude to his wife Zulay for her unwavering support.

The French World Cup winner was handed an initial four-year ban in February after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance boosting testosterone levels, following Juventus’ first game of the 2023-24 campaign. However, a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his suspension to 18 months.

“I’m not a cheater,” Pogba emphasized in a Sky Sports interview. “I like to win fairly. I’m a bad loser, but I’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs.” He acknowledged responsibility, stating, “I should have been more careful and triple-checked.”

Pogba revealed the original four-year ban led him to consider retiring. “It came to my mind that my career might be over,” he admitted. However, with the reduced ban, he’s set to resume training in early 2025 and return to competitive action in March.

Throughout this challenging period, Pogba credited Zulay for her motivation. “My wife told me, ‘you’re gonna play again’ and ‘you’re gonna get through this.'” He acknowledged the incident “helped me grow as a man and learn life’s lessons.”

As Pogba regains match fitness, speculation surrounds his future. Juventus reportedly seek to cut ties, with reports linking him to Marseille and joining Lionel Messi in the MLS.

Image Credit: Getty Images Sport

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