Denis Cheryshev
It has been revealed that Spain’s anti-doping agency has opened an
investigation into Valencia’s Russian striker Denis Cheryshev, one of
the revelations of the 2018 World Cup.
The agency revealed this on Wednesday.
According to the Agency France Presse, AFP, the announcement comes
after a Russian publication quoted the player’s father, Dmitri, as
saying in June 2017 that Cheryshev had received growth hormone
injections when he played at Spanish side Villarreal.
Dmitri Cheryshev has since said his statements have been twisted by
reporters, while the player himself insists his conscience is clear.
Without a medical exemption, the use of growth hormones is considered doping and is punishable with a ban of up to four years.
“An investigation has been opened to get more information regarding this case,” a spokesman for Spain’s anti-doping agency AEPSAD said.
“The investigation is being carried out in cooperation with
Russia’s anti-doping agency and in permanent contact with the World
Anti-Doping Agency which is aware of the affair and will be informed of
the conclusions,” the spokesman said, adding it was too soon to draw conclusions.
Cheryshev, who scored four goals in five World Cup games for Russia
as they reached the quarter finals, had denied any wrongdoing.
“On my side, everything has been honest and I think there will be no problem,” he told Russian sports daily Sport-Express.
“I think we’d better leave this case in the hands of medics, who have done everything right,” he told Sport Express.
The 27-year-old striker joined Valencia in August on a season-long loan from Villarreal.