Saido Berahino has explained that the eight-week drugs ban he served earlier this season came after his drink was spiked in a nightclub.
The 23-year-old was suspended for eight weeks by the Football Association last year after testing positive for a recreational drug in an out-of-competition screening.
As a result, Berahino did not play for former club West Bromwich Albion between September and January, when he joined Stoke City for £12m.
"To be banned for something you really haven't done is hard to take," the former England Under-21 striker told BBC Sport.
"You go on a night out, you don't know who you are around and there are people who are out to get you. 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."
Berahino brought an end to his turbulent time at West Brom by signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at the bet365 Stadium on January 20.
Giuseppe Labellarte
