Paul Pogba retains France ‘hope’ after reduced doping ban

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Paul Pogba has emphasized that he is not dishonest following the recent reduction of his doping suspension. He is now aiming to make a comeback to the French national team once his ban ends in March.

Former Manchester United midfielder Pogba received a four-year ban in March following a provisional suspension that began in September of the previous year, after he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Following a prolonged appeals process, the 31-year-old had his suspension shortened to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on October 4, allowing him to return to his career in March.

The CAS ruling concluded that Pogba did not intend to take the prohibited substance and that it happened because he mistakenly used a supplement given to him by a doctor in Florida.

During an interview with Sky Sports, the 2018 World Cup champion stressed that he has consistently been a fair competitor.

Pogba expressed, "When you think of me, you already know who I am and others do too. So when everything went down, people were saying, 'We absolutely trust Paul; he wouldn’t intentionally do that. If he did, it was unintentional or he wasn’t aware.' And that’s completely accurate."

I consider myself a straightforward individual, and I’ll be upfront about it. If I were to reflect on my actions, I would honestly admit, "Yes, I did it because I felt it was necessary." But that's not true; that's not who I am. I don’t engage in cheating.

"I’m passionate about my sport and truly enjoy the game. Cheating is something I would never consider. I believe in winning honestly, and people recognize that about me. You can see it in my demeanor; I might not take losing well, but one thing is certain—I would never resort to cheating."

I've gotten a glimpse of what life is like beyond my career, and I can say it will certainly lead to another Paul Pogba experience.

Although Pogba has a contract with Juventus that lasts until 2026, the French international, who has played for his country 91 times, was quite reserved when discussing his future with the club. He answered several questions about where he might head next.

There’s a possibility that he might mutually end his contract with the Serie A team. If that doesn’t happen, Pogba can start training with Juventus again in January, and he has a major objective of getting back into international play.

When asked about the possibility of returning to the French national team, Pogba expressed, "That’s definitely my wish. I definitely think about it, but I need to make sure I'm prepared. There are other players who have earned their spot and deserve to be on the national team."

"I need to earn my spot back on the national team. I'm definitely prepared to put up a fight for it."

Pogba also vowed to value the sport more after getting a taste of what life could be like after football. He briefly worried that his career might be finished due to his initial suspension.

"It’s clear that I want to maintain my current skills, and if I can improve even further, that’s definitely my goal," Pogba mentioned.

"I want to maintain my current skill level. I'm still the same player, but I have a new drive and a greater determination. I feel more passionate than ever, and I will definitely value the game more now that I've experienced it being taken away from me. I've come to understand just how significant it is in my life."

"I've experienced a glimpse of life beyond my career, so I'm determined to push myself even further. I want to be like Paul Pogba—similar, but with even greater drive to be on the field and continue playing until I hang up my boots."