Former Manchester United player Paul Pogba insists he is not a “cheater” and has taken responsibility for his doping test failure, which resulted in a four-year suspension from football. After successfully appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), his ban was reduced to 18 months, allowing him to return to play in March 2025.
In a recent interview, the 31-year-old stated that he has “never taken performance-enhancing drugs” and did not do so intentionally. He described himself as an “honest person” and stressed that cheating is not in his nature.
“I prefer to win fairly,” he told Sky Sports. “I hate losing, but cheating isn’t who I am.” Pogba admitted that he “didn’t triple check” his supplement intake and accepted responsibility for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) during the first match of the 2023/24 season.
“I take responsibility for using the supplement, but I didn’t verify it thoroughly—even though it came from a professional,” he explained. “If punishment is necessary, I can accept that. However, a four-year ban was too harsh; I can accept 12 months.”
He asserts that the substances he used were not performance-enhancing, describing them as “just supplements for health.” When asked to reassure fans of his integrity, he said, “Those who know me understand. Even amidst the controversy, many said: ‘We know Paul; he would never do that. If he did, it wouldn’t have been intentional.’ This is completely true. I am an honest person.”
Pogba remains a Juventus player, but there is speculation about a potential move away from Italy, with links to clubs in Ligue 1 and the United States.
