Las Vegas Cops Issue Warrant for Ronaldo's DNA

Las Vegas Cops Issue Warrant for Ronaldo's DNA

By: Francis Joseph

Cristiano Ronaldo is being asked by police in the US to provide a DNA sample in an ongoing investigation of a woman's allegation that he raped her in his Las Vegas hotel penthouse in 2009, the footballer's lawyer has said.

Peter S. Christiansen downplayed the development, denied the rape allegation and provided no additional details.

He did not immediately confirm a Wall Street Journal report citing an unnamed law enforcement source saying that Las Vegas police obtained a warrant that was sent to Italy to obtain a DNA sample from the 33-year-old Ronaldo, who plays for Juventus.

"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," Mr Christiansen said.

Las Vegas police declined to comment, said Officer Laura Meltzer, a department spokeswoman.