Saido Berahino 'never wavered' from spiked drink claim, says Stoke boss Mark Hughes
Friday 31 March 2017 11:02, UK
Saido Berahino "has never wavered" from his belief that a spiked drink caused his positive drug test, according to Stoke boss Mark Hughes.
The striker served an eight-week suspension at the tail-end of his West Brom career before leaving for Stoke in the January transfer window.
In an interview with the BBC this week, Berahino claimed his drink was spiked at a nightclub and his Stoke boss supported that claim at his weekly press conference on Friday.
"That's always been Saido's stance on how the drug was in his system," Hughes said. "We have no reason to disbelieve him. He's never wavered from that stance.
"It's sad but I think it does happen in society now. I think a lot of people have been victims of that.
"We keep on trying to move on from things, its just a bit more meat on the bone from the actual situation and how it came about.
"We are all moving on. He's playing football again, he's doing well, been a big part of recent weeks, we are trying to create more chances for him. Hopefully in games to come we can do that. He's shown good intent, its only a matter of time.
"These things will raise their head throughout his career. But Saido has been very clear in his message to us. It doesn't affect us moving forward."
Berahino also criticised West Brom's conduct and said he was left unprotected by the club he first joined at the age of 11.
That allegation was put to Albion boss Tony Pulis, who said: "'If Saido has an opinion, Saido is entitled to that opinion.
"People have got to make a decision. They've got to decide. They're all sensible enough to know whether we did look after him or not. I will leave it to them.
