Berahino Served An Eight-Week Ban For Failing Drug Test
Reuters / Carl Recine
Stoke City striker Saido Berahino has been handed an eight-week suspension after failing a drugs test in September, manager Mark Hughes revealed during a press conference on Friday.
Hughes was answering questions regarding a report in the Daily Mail that the Burundi-born 23-year-old had tested positive out of competition back in September for a recreational drug.
“There was an FA disciplinary matter and Saido had an eight-week suspension, I believe,” he said.
“We were aware of that before we signed him. In terms of more detail you would probably need to refer back to his former club.
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“We aren’t in a position to give any more details as we don’t have them. He had issues at his previous club for 18 months, which this is obviously a part of.”
Generally, FA doesn’t comment on their social drugs policy regulations and they remained silent in this case as well.
West Brom will welcome Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday and Hughes said there was no reason why Berahino would not play against his old club.
Tony Pulis, the former Stoke manager who is now in charge at the Hawthorns, also confirmed the player served a suspension.
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“Saido served a ban while he was here but I won’t comment why. He didn’t play for me because he wasn’t fit enough,” Pulis said.
“Saido is no longer an Albion player. It’s one for Stoke to handle.”
During that suspension Berahino had to train alone at a fitness camp in France.
As he was tested positive for a recreational substance, he was subject to the World Anti-Doping Agency sanctions but the FA have their own regulations to counter this which cover social drug abuse and can even ban players who test positive for up to six months.
