Warrant issued for Ronaldo DNA sample
Cristiano Ronaldo’s lawyer has acknowledged that U.S. investigators are seeking DNA from Ronaldo in relation to an alleged sexual assault incident in 2009. (2:20)
Las Vegas authorities have sent a warrant to collect DNA from Cristiano Ronaldo to discover whether it matches traces found on a dress belonging to Kathryn Mayorga. Mayorga has said Ronaldo raped her in a hotel room in 2009.
A statement issued Thursday by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the warrant has been sent to authorities in Italy, where the five-time Ballon d’Or winner plays for league leaders Juventus.
“The LVMPD is taking the same steps in this case as in any other sexual assault to facilitate the collection of DNA evidence,” the statement read.
The department said it would not provide any additional information at this time.
Ronaldo’s lawyer, Peter S. Christiansen, issued a statement on behalf of the Portugal international, saying: “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.”
Police in Las Vegas confirmed in October they had reopened a criminal investigation at Mayorga’s request.
According to the civil lawsuit, which was filed in a Nevada court in September, Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo raped her in his hotel room in Las Vegas, and that she was coerced into signing a nondisclosure agreement in 2010 in an out-of-court settlement in exchange for $375,000.
The suit asks for general damages, special damages, punitive damages and special relief, each in excess of $50,000, along with interest, attorneys fees and court costs.
Ronaldo has repeatedly denied the accusations.