Soccer superstar Ronaldo has gone into hiding as a transvestite prostitute scandal threatens to overshadow his luminous career.
The Brazilian striker has reportedly cancelled two television appearances and will continue rehabilitation from a recent knee operation at home.
While police say he has not committed any crime, he was accused of drug use by one of the prostitutes.
One transvestite may face charges of extorting money and stealing the footballer's driver's licence, after an altercation with two other prostitutes at a Rio de Janeiro motel.
p> "One of the transvestites said in his interview that the transvestite known as Andreia asked him (Ronaldo) for US$29,599," detective Carlos Augusto Nogueira told reporters.
"It's very likely that he (Andreia) will be charged with extortion."
The transvestites and Ronaldo were interviewed by police on Monday. Nobody has yet been charged.
Nogueira said that Andreia, whose real name was given as Andre Luiz Ribeiro Albertino, had taken Ronaldo's driving licence.
Ronaldo has not appeared in public since the incident but his spokesman issued a statement yesterday.
"In light of recent developments, it must be stressed that no criminal complaint whatsoever has been made against Ronaldo, which rules out any possibility of the player being required to appear at the police station," it said.
"As a keen supporter of social causes, Ronaldo has never been a drug user and has always taken seriously his status as a role model and idol for children and young people in Brazil and around the world."
Ronaldo, 31, suffered a serious knee injury during a Serie A game against Livorno in February but has said he is determined to resume his career.
His spokesman said he would continue to have three sessions of physiotherapy a day. His recovery is expected to take at least another seven months.
ninemsn 30 Apr 2008That's where the problem lies, in the $29,599. That was the undoing. an even 600 would have gone unnoticed.
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