Paul Pogba has spoken up about his doping ban and emphatically denied cheating while accepting responsibility for the oversight that led to his suspension. Juventus midfielder Pogba was found to have tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, which is a substance derived from an endogenous steroid hormone that naturally occurs within the body and increases testosterone.
Initially facing a four-year ban, Pogba had his punishment reduced to an 18-month suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing him to return to competitive football in March 2025 and avoiding what could have been an early retirement at age 35.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Pogba insisted he never knowingly took performance-enhancing medication: “I like to win fairly. I’m a bad loser, but I’m not a cheater.” He acknowledged he should have been more careful, admitting, “I should have triple-checked everything. I take full responsibility.
The emotional burden, he admits, was huge, and at one point, it made him fear that his career could be all over. He says his wife, Zulay, was the biggest driving force during that period.
With his suspension reduced, Pogba is in line to make a January 2025 return to training as Juventus continues its Serie A campaign.
