Mark Hughes insists Saido Berahino always told Stoke his drugs ban came after having his drink spiked in a nightclub, adding: ‘There’s no reason to disbelieve him’.
Berahino claimed his positive test was the result of somebody else’s malice in an interview with BBC’s Football Focus and Hughes is backing his player’s version of events.
The 23-year-old served a secret eight-week Football Association suspension while at West Bromwich Albion and Stoke knew his circumstances when committing to a £12million deal rising to £15m in January.
‘That's always been Saido's take on how the drug was in his system,’ said Hughes.