Saido Berahino left West Brom for Stoke City during the recent transfer window. Mark Hughes and the Stoke board shelled out £12 million for the striker.
They were deterred by the fact that he hadn't played since September nor the fact that he hadn't scored since February. Despite his clear talent, West Brom were persuaded to let him go on account of his off-field problems , which include a 12 month drink-driving ban and a published photo of him sampling some hippy crack.
This evening, the Mail revealed the reason why Berahino hasn't played in the Premier League since September. The striker was suspended by the FA for failing a drugs test.
Berahino tested positive for drugs of the non-performance enhancing variety. FA doping regulations insist on testing for recreational drugs like cocaine and cannibis.
Berahino tested positive for a recreational drug in out-of-competition test in September.
While he was banned, the FA follow a policy of not naming players found to have taken recreational drugs "to allow them to return clean without being stigmatised for an offence that arose outside of the WADA requirements."
Stoke City were made aware of the positive test before they signed the player. They proceeded anyway believing it to be a relative bargain considering the player's potential.
A year ago, West Brom rejected a £25 million offer for the player from Spurs. Berahino threatened to go on strike when the deal was scuppered.
Berahino has a remarkable background. Born in Burundi, his father was killed in the Civil War while young Saido was four years old.
He moved to England as an asylum seeker at the age of 10 and was called up to Roy Hodgson's squad a couple of years ago. (you might say that it's no surprise that the Mail would be keen to expose him)
He told Channel 4 News at the time that he still considers him a Burundian. He also spoke about his occasionally harrowing childhood.
