Stoke back Berahino's drug ban claim

Mar 31, 2017 - 11:34 AM Stoke City supports forward Saido Berahino's claim that his eight-week Premier League drugs ban was a result of a spiked drink, manager Mark Hughes says.

Berahino served the ban earlier this season for failing a drugs test while at former club West Bromwich Albion.

The former England under-21 striker told the BBC this week his ban was the result of someone spiking his drink at a nightclub.

"That's always been Saido's stance and we've got no reason not to believe him. From the first time we spoke to Saido that's always been his stance and he's never wavered," Hughes told reporters on Friday.

"In this day and age you can believe that it can happen... He's playing football again, doing well."

Berahino joined Stoke in January for a reported 12 million pounds ($A1.3m) having not played for Albion since September 2016.

Stoke, ninth on the table, face 15th-placed Leicester City on Saturday and Hughes is wary of a rejuvenated side that have won all three of their league games since sacking manager Claudio Ranieri last month.

Source: AAP