People Were Avoiding Me - Paul Pogba Reflects On Isolation During Doping Ban

French midfielder Paul Pogba has described the personal and professional isolation he experienced during his doping suspension, saying the ban stripped away the fame and social connections that once defined his life.

In interviews granted after his ban was reduced, the 2018 World Cup winner recounted how people distanced themselves once he was no longer the high-profile star.

“Paul Pogba, the famous guy is no more. People were avoiding me,” he said.

“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," he added.

Pogba tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance that elevates testosterone levels, following a random test after a Juventus match in August 2023.

Italian authorities initially imposed a four-year ban. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced it to 18 months in October 2024, allowing him to return to competitive football in March 2025.

Juventus terminated his contract during the suspension.

The former Manchester United player emphasized that the experience taught him harsh lessons about conditional relationships.

He also mentioned that the worst experience during the period was when his wife Zulay, chose to avoid him sometimes.

"The worst thing, it was even my wife," he said. 

Pogba signed a two-year deal with AS Monaco in 2025 after becoming free to play again.

His first season back was limited by injuries, and in the summer of 2026 the club indicated the project had not fully worked as hoped, leaving open the possibility of a departure while he continues pre-season work.

The midfielder has said the ordeal changed his perspective, making him value football and personal relationships differently after the long absence.