Paul Pogba: I’m Not A Cheat; I Like To Win Fairly

Paul Pogba has insisted he is not a cheater after his doping ban was reduced this month and says he is targeting a return to the France national team when his suspension expires in March.

The former Manchester United midfielder received a four-year ban last February, having been provisionally suspended since September of the previous year after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

After a lengthy appeal process, the 31-year-old had his ban reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on 4 October.

The Cas judgment found Pogba’s ingestion of the banned substance “was not intentional” and was the result of erroneously taking a supplement prescribed to him by a medical doctor in Florida.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, the 2018 World Cup winner said he has always been a clean athlete. Pogba said, “I mean when you see me, you know me, and people know me, so even when all the thing happened, they were like: ‘No, for sure we know Paul, he would never take that. If he did, he didn’t know or it wasn’t on purpose.’ And this is the truth.

“I am an honest person and I would say it. In the end, I would say, ‘Yes, I did because I felt like I needed it’, and that’s not the case. This is not me. I am not a cheater. I am someone who loves my sport, I love the game and I would never. I don’t like to cheat.

“I like to win fairly and people know that. You see it. You see, I am someone who is a bad loser, but I am not a cheater. That’s for sure.”

Although Pogba is under contract with Juventus until 2026, the 91-cap France international was discreet about his club’s future, answering various questions regarding his potential next destination. A mutual termination of his contract with the Serie A club is a possibility.

However, if that doesn’t happen, Pogba plans to return to training with Juventus in January and is focused on resuming his international career.

Asked about returning to France, Pogba said, “That is what I hope. Of course, it is in my mind for sure, but I have to be ready for that. There are players there who deserve to play and deserve to be on the national team. I have to win my place also in the national team again. Of course, I am ready to fight.”

Pogba also promised to appreciate the sport more after he was given a glimpse into life after football and momentarily thought his career could be over following his initial ban.

“I don’t want to lose the level I am at and if I can surpass it, this is what I want,” Pogba said. “I don’t want my level to change. I am still the same player with a different hunger and more motivated, more and more hungry, and I will for sure appreciate the game more than before because the game has been taken away from me, and I realize how important it is for me.

“I kind of tasted what life is after the career, kind of, so it will be another Paul Pogba. Same, but even more motivated to be on the pitch and play until the end of my career.”

Pogba on his willingness to stay at Juventus

Paul Pogba has expressed his determination to return to Juventus following his shortened doping ban, even if it requires him to take a pay cut.

“I’m willing to give up money to be able to play again with Juve, I want to come back with this club,” said Pogba in an interview published on the Italian sports daily’s website.

“The reality is that I am a Juve player and I am preparing to play for Juve.”

Pogba’s contract with the Italian giants expires in June 2026 and is currently worth eight million euros a year.

During his ongoing suspension, the midfielder receives only the minimum salary stipulated in the Serie A collective agreement just over €2,000 a month.

Despite the reduction of Pogba’s ban, Italian media have reported that Juventus is still looking to terminate his contract.