Adriano denies drug trafficker ties

Published Mar. 26, 2010 10:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

Brazil striker Adriano denies buying a motorcycle for the mother of a Rio de Janeiro drug trafficker, according to police.

Inspector Jader Machado Amaral says Adriano admits giving money to a friend to buy two motorcycles in 2008.

Adriano said when questioned that one motorcycle was for his own use and the other was for a friend.

Amaral said on Friday, "somehow one of the motorcycles was registered in the name of the mother of a known drug trafficker."

He said Adriano claims he traveled to Italy before the motorcycles were registered and has no idea how the documents of one of them ended up in the name of the trafficker's mother.

"If we determine Adriano is telling the truth we will have no reason to charge him," said Amaral.