Stoke City striker Saido Berahino says the eight-week drugs ban he served earlier this season came after his drink was spiked in a nightclub.
Berahino did not play for former club West Brom between September and January, when he joined Stoke for £12m.
“To be banned for something you really haven’t done is hard to take,” the 23-year-old told BBC’s Football Focus.
He claims the level of drugs found was “really low”, which he says proves there was no intent on his behalf.
“You go on a night out, you don’t know who you are around and there are people who are out to get you,” said the former England Under-21 international.
“Of course, I was in a nightclub, so I hold my hand up for being irresponsible.
“From then on it all crashed down. To this day, I still cannot understand who would want to do that to me.”
