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Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba said he is “not a cheater” but accepted responsibility for the failed doping test that led to a ban.<\/b><\/p>\n
Pogba’s four-year ban was reduced to 18 months<\/a> earlier this month after the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted his ingestion of a banned substance “was not intentional”.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old was suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) in February after a drugs test found elevated levels of testosterone – a hormone that increases endurance – in his system.<\/p>\n “This is not me, I’m not a cheater,” Pogba told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n “I’m someone that loves my sport, I love the game and I would never, ever cheat. I like to win fairly.<\/p>\n “I’m a bad loser but I’m not a cheater.”<\/p>\n The reduced ban started from 11 September 2023, with sources close to the Pogba telling BBC Sport that he can resume training in January and will be eligible to play again from March.<\/p>\n “I take some responsibility because I took the supplement, ” Pogba added. <\/p>\n “I didn’t triple check, let’s say it like that, even if it came from a professional. If I have to be punished, I am fine with it, but it should never be four years.”<\/p>\n