Paul Pogba has insisted that he is "not a cheater" but took responsibility for his doping ban and revealed how his wife Zulay motivated him.
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Pogba claimed innocence in doping incidentInsisted that he is an "honest" personHailed his wife for being a pillar of strengthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The French World Cup-winning midfielder was banned in February this year after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance that can boost testosterone levels, following a drug test after Juventus' first game of the 2023-24 campaign. Initially handed a four-year ban, Pogba saw his suspension dramatically reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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Had the ban remained at four years, Pogba would have been unable to return to the pitch until 2027, at which point he would have been 35 years old. However, with the ban now shortened, Pogba is set to resume training in early 2025 and is eligible to return to competitive action in March.
WHAT POGBA SAID
In an interview with Pogba refuted claims of intentional doping and claimed that he has "never taken performance-enhancing drugs". However, he believes that he should have been more careful and "took responsibility" for the entire ordeal as he "didn't triple-check".
"I like to win fairly," he said. "I'm a bad loser, but I'm not a cheater."
Reflecting on the original punishment, Pogba admitted that the severity of the four-year ban left him contemplating the end of his football career. "It came to my mind that my career might be over," he shared.
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Throughout this turbulent period, Pogba credited his wife, Zulay, for helping him maintain his mental strength as she did her best to keep him grounded and motivated during his lowest moments. "My wife told me, 'you're gonna play again' and 'you're gonna get through this'," Pogba revealed.
Despite the emotional toll of the situation, Pogba admitted that the incident "helped me to grow as a man [and] learn lessons of life".