Former Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran has appeared before a judge at the first hearing of a trial in which he is accused of drug trafficking.

Axar.az reports, citing Turkish media, that Saran denied the accusations, saying he had neither used nor supplied drugs or sold them to anyone.

“I did not use anything, give anything to anyone or sell anything. These were messages mixed with jokes and banter. I am incredibly saddened and ashamed to be here,” he said in his defence.

Saran said his monthly income was 6 million Turkish lira. He explained that the messages exchanged with television presenter Ela Rumeysa Cebeci were related to a film they had watched together during their emotional relationship and were intended as jokes.

Saran and Cebeci are being tried separately on charges of trafficking or supplying narcotic or stimulant substances, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences of at least 10 years for each. Cebeci did not attend the first hearing.

The court ruled that Saran would no longer be required to attend hearings, ordered that Cebeci be heard at the next session, and maintained the judicial control measure prohibiting the defendants from travelling abroad.

The hearing was adjourned until November 4.