Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the reports on Friday
A statement by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has confirmed reports on Thursday that they have issued an arrest warrant to obtain samples of DNA from Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
The statement confirmed that the sample would be sought in regards to an ongoing sexual assault investigation against the 33-year-old.
Authorities also said that a request had been made to Italian authorities as part of their inquiries.
“We have received numerous requests asking for confirmation of a report that detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have issued a warrant seeking to obtain a DNA sample from Cristiano Renaldo (sic) in regards to an ongoing investigation into a reported sexual assault,” read the statement.
“The LVMPD is taking the same steps in this case as in any other sexual assault to facilitate the collection of DNA evidence. We can confirm that an official request has been submitted to Italian authorities.
“Due to this being an ongoing investigation, we have no additional information or comment on this case at this time.”
Las Vegas police confirm an official request has been submitted to Italian authorities for Ronaldo’s DNA after rape allegation which he denies pic.twitter.com/gexk15hryw
— Dan Roan (@danroan) January 11, 2019
Ronaldo has been accused of rape by American Kathryn Mayorga, who claims he sexually assaulted her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.
Though Ronaldo has vehemently denied the allegations, one of his primary sponsors, Nike, has admitted that it is “deeply concerned” by the allegations.
Reports of the warrant began to circulate on Thursday evening prior to the confirmation, at which time Ronaldo’s lawyer issued a statement referring to it as a “very standard request”.
“Mr. Ronaldo has always maintained, as he does today, that what occurred in Las Vegas in 2009 was consensual in nature, so it is not surprising that DNA would be present, nor that the police would make this very standard request as part of their investigation,” said the statement from Peter S. Christiansen, a criminal defence lawyer based in Las Vegas.
Breaking: Lawyer of Cristiano Ronaldo tells us it is “not surprising” after reports that Las Vegas police have issued a warrant to obtain the player’s DNA, after claims – which he denies – that he raped a woman in the US city 9 years ago, calling it a “very standard request”. pic.twitter.com/vjksc06T6K
— Dan Roan (@danroan) January 10, 2019
