PAUL POGBA has revealed his friends stopped ringing him after his doping ban and admitted “the famous guy” was “no more”.
The Juventus and France midfielder, 31, was initially handed a four-year ban from football for a doping offence, before the suspension was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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It means he is able to return to training with Juventus from January – and can play as soon as March.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Pogba accepted responsibility for taking the banned supplement – DHEA – but was also adamant he is “not a cheater”.
He also opened up about the impact it had on his personal relationships following the original four-year ban.
And the World Cup winner, who had two stints at Manchester United, has claimed his friends stopped calling him following the suspension.
Speaking to The Mail, he said: “We are all human, we all have feelings. When that [ban] happened, I realised what life is.
“Paul Pogba – the famous guy – is no more. People were avoiding me.
“I used to get invited to fashion weeks and events like that. Now they were like, ‘We can’t use Pogba’. My friends weren’t ringing like the way they were ringing before.
“When people hear doping it’s like they think you want to become the Incredible Hulk.
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“That’s how people used to see me. And public opinion means they can say what they want.”
Pogba spoke on his plans for when he returns to football, stating his main goal is to get back on the pitch – wherever that may be.
He said: “I would just love to be [back] on the pitch, on any pitch.
“First it’s for sure Juventus and I want to start training with my teammates.
“It’s tough to be alone doing passes for yourself on the wall. My main focus right now is to get back training, get fit, be on the pitch and be doing what I love.”
He is convinced that he can still play at the highest level when he makes his return, with hopes of a France call-up.
He added: “That’s what I hope [to play for France]. It’s in my mind for sure but I have to be ready for that.
“There’s players there that deserve to be playing and deserve to be in the national team.
“I have to win my place back in the team again.”
Pogba won four Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias during his first spell at Juventus – while he also reached the Champions League final.
He left to go back to Man Utd in 2016 and played more than 200 games for the club, picking up the Europa League and League Cup.
During his time as a Red Devils player, he also won the World Cup with France and has been capped 91 times by his country, scoring 11 goals.
He returned to Juventus in 2022 but has made just 12 appearances in two years.
What is DHEA?
PAUL POGBA tested positive for elevated levels of DHEA, a hormone that naturally occurs in the adrenal gland, in August 2023.
DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, can be used to naturally boost testosterone production. It does not produce testosterone itself.
It is on the world anti-doping banned substances list and carries a maximum of four years if the athlete took it deliberately to enhance their performance.
DHEA can legally be sold over-the-counter in the US as a dietary product, known as prasterone.
It is also taken as an anti-ageing therapy, and to treat depression and the symptoms of menopause, although there is little evidence to suggest it is effective, and it can cause serious side effects.
In 2022, UFC fighter Bobby Green received a six-month ban after testing positive for a DHEA.
Green said he had not realised that DHEA was banned after seeing a video on YouTube, and took the supplement after his wife bought it from a supermarket.
