Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba insists he isn't a 'cheater' as he took responsibility for his failed doping test that resulted in a four-year ban from football.
Following a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Pogba's ban was reduced to 18 months, with the midfielder free to start playing again from March 2025.
Speaking in a new interview ahead of returning to action, the 31-year-old has said he has 'never taken performance-enhancing drugs' and he didn't do it on purpose.
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He maintains that he's an 'honest person' and 'not a cheater'.
"I like to win fairly," he told Sky Sports. "I'm a bad loser, but I'm not a cheater."
Pogba admits he 'didn't triple check' as he took responsibility for his failed test, having tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the first game of the 2023/24 season
"I accept responsibility of taking the supplement, but I didn’t triple check it - even if it came from a professional," he said.
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"If I have to be punished, then I'm fine with it. But it should never have been four years. I will accept 12 months."
He claims what he took wasn't performance-enhancing, saying: "Just supplements. Just normal things to improve health."
Asked to reassure his fans that he has never cheated in his career, the Frenchman replied: "When you see me, you know me. People know me.
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"So even when everything happened people said: 'we know Paul, he would never take that. If he did, he wouldn't have known and it won't have been on purpose'.
"And this it totally the truth. I'm an honest person, I would say it."
Pogba is still a Juventus player but a move away from Italy appears to be on the cards.
He has been linked with a move to France's Ligue 1 as well as the United States.
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Paul Pogba, Juventus
Nasir Jabbar