He is freed from the 'curse' on 24th June 2024, a two-year ban after failing the dope test that started on 24th June 2022. He was playing for ATK Mohun Bagan at that time. He had already represented India in the two preparatory matches against Oman and UAE by that time. 

Ashutosh Mehta cannot forget the date. Even he cannot forget every day of his last years. Still, the 33-year-old defender wants to forget the two years of darkness and waits for a solid comeback in football. Factually, he missed playing in the ISL, the mainstream of Indian football. He had to miss getting more national call-ups during the phase. 

But these are for the records. Mehta claims those two years might have been the turning point in his football journey! “Now I am probably in the best shape of life! I have never reached the fitness level I am now after two years,” revealed Mehta while speaking to the Parallel Sports from his home in Mumbai. 

How could he motivate himself during these two years? Ashutosh explained, “When you are in a dark place you feel you have been buried. But the truth is that you have been planted.”

He continued, "I had a firm belief in this and from the day I faced the ban, I never thought my journey was over. I used to say to my mother every day that I would be back with more perfection, more sharpness on the pitch. I never missed training for a single day in the last two years." 

When asked whether he was inspired by any book or any particular character, Mehta made an interesting statement saying, "I myself wanted to set an example in the football fraternity that if you maintain the discipline at the highest level you can cross all the hurdles." 

The defender, aware of the fact that he was innocent even took his fight to the CAS (International Court of Arbitration). 

Since it was not intentional or related to enhanced performance Ashutosh was optimistic about the ban being reduced to three to six months which unfortunately did not happen. 

Even, the defender who donned the shirts of Mumbai City FC, and NorthEast United also had to go through social dishonour. "Initially I became depressed while facing all these things. But later, I set my mind instructed not to care for what others are feeling or commenting," remembered Mehta. 

Mehta has already been in talks with a couple of ISL clubs. He informed it will be finalized within the next month. 

But Mehta has a significant plan he wants to make awareness of the banned substance and doping among the country's football fraternity. “Several footballers are there who do not have proper knowledge about the banned substances and doping also.”

"I want to make the football fraternity as well as other sports personalities aware of this issue. I will do it, either through the social media platform or physically by my presence if I get the opportunity," concluded Ashutosh.