'I have nothing to hide' Washington Capitals star Evgeny Kuznetsov, 27, denies any drug use after video emerges of him in a Las Vegas hotel room sitting next to two lines of a white powdery substance
- Washington Capitals hockey player Evgeny Kuznetsov, 27, is denying ever using drugs after a viral video emerged showing him near a suspicious substance
- A since-deleted video emerged on Twitter on Monday with the caption: 'So this is why we lost # Kuznetsov # fm2019'
- It refers to how Russia placed third in the IIHF World Championships in Slovakia
- The clip shows Kuznetsov on Facetime near a table with two lines of a white powdery substance and a rolled up American dollar bill
- Despite his proximity to the suspected drug, he doesn't interact with it
- On Monday Kuznetsov said the video was shot in Las Vegas during Washington's 2018 Stanley Cup Run and he left the room when he noticed drugs
- He claims he's never used drugs and is willing to be drug tested
- The Capitals says they're aware of the video and are currently 'gathering facts'
Washington Capitals hockey player Evgeny Kuznetsov is denying that he uses drugs after a video went viral showing him sitting in a hotel room near two lines of a powdery white substance set up on a table.
The video was posted then deleted on Monday by Russian Twitter account @Thesavspb with the caption: 'So this is why we lost # Kuznetsov # fm2019', referring to how Russia placed third in the IIHF World Championships in Slovakia.
It’s not clear when or where the video was recorded, though Kuznetsov claims the video was shot in Las Vegas during Washington Capital's 2018 Stanley Cup Run.
Kuznetsov, a 27-year-old Russian native, appears to be in the middle of a FaceTime conversation on his phone in the clip, oblivious to the fact that another person is recording him.
The clip shows Kuznetsov on Facetime near a table with two lines of a white powdery substance and a rolled up American dollar bill
Washington Capitals hockey player Evgeny Kuznetsov, 27, is denying ever using drugs after a viral video emerged showing him near a suspicious substance
The 20-second clip focuses on an unknown substance set up in two lines next to a rolled up dollar bill.
Kuznetsov does not make contact with the substance in the video.
Despite the clip, Kuznetsov insists he's never used drugs before and he's even willing to undergo a medical exam 'at any time', he said in an interview in Russia to Sports Express.
'I don’t necessarily have anything to do with what is going on around me. I never used drugs and have no intention to get into it. If there are any questions, I am ready to undergo testing,' he said.
'I just went to my friends in the room. When I saw what was happening there – unfamiliar women, strange substances on the table - I called my friend and left as soon as I could,' he said in the interview.
'I have nothing to hide, let it remain on the conscience of the one who posted this video,' he added.
Despite his proximity to the drugs, he never interacts with it. On Monday he defended his name saying the video was shot in Las Vegas in 2018, he left the room when he noticed the drugs, and he's willing to take a drug test
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The Capitals released a statement in light of the video saying they're aware of the content and are 'currently in the process of gathering facts and will have no further comment at this time,' as per the New York Post.
'I hesitate to use the term "investigation" just because I think it’s a fairly ambiguous word,' NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said on the video.
'Obviously, we have to understand the facts and circumstances and what happened, and that involves appropriate follow-up with the appropriate people. I wouldn’t call it a formal investigation; we want to know what’s going on.
'He seems to have acknowledged that he was in that room with whatever it is, but I don’t know what whatever it is, and he claims not to have used whatever it is, so on that basis, I’m not going to convict him of anything,' he added.
Kuznetsov scored 21 goals and contributed 51 assists across 76 games for Washington this season.
He's been with the Capitals since 2013 when he was drafted with the 26th overall pick.
Kuznetsov has played with the Washington Capitals since 2013 and has scored 21 goals this season. The team says they're aware of the video and currently 'gathering facts'
