Denis Cheryshev doping investigation: Russia’s World Cup hero in hot water with Spanish authorities thanks to his father
Spanish anti-doping agency looks into comments from Denis Cheryshev’s father in Russian media that his son took ‘growth hormone’ before tournament
Spain’s anti-doping agency said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into Valencia and Russia winger Denis Cheryshev, following remarks from his father Dmitri in Russian media about an injection the player took to treat an injury.
“We can confirm we have started an investigation to find out more information about the case,” said a spokesman from the Aepsad, the Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sport, which is responsible for the fight against doping.
“The investigation is being carried out with the cooperation of Russia’s anti-doping agency and is in contact with the World Anti-Doping Agency [Wada].”
Cheryshev, who scored four goals in Russia’s surprise run to the World Cup quarter-finals, has denied ever taking a banned substance.
The investigation stems from an interview which Dmitri Cheryshev gave to Russian publication Sport Weekend during the World Cup, in which he was quoted saying his son had received an injection containing “growth hormone” in the run-up to the tournament to treat injury.
On the eve of Russia’s last-16 game against Spain, Cheryshev said: “I have never used any prohibited substances and you don’t even have to think twice about it.”
