Las Vegas police issue warrant for Cristiano Ronaldo DNA sample

Las Vegas law enforcement authorities have issued a warrant for a DNA sample from Cristiano Ronaldo as they continue their investigation into the rape allegations made against the Portuguese footballer.

The Wall Street Journal report that authorities want to determine whether Ronaldo's DNA matches that found on a dress of the woman who has accused him of sexual assault. The warrant has been sent to the court system in Italy, where Ronaldo currently plays his football, according to the report. Ronaldo, who was making his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid at the time of the alleged rape, has vehemently denied assaulting Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. Lawyer Peter S Christiansen, representing Ronaldo, told BBC Sport: "Mr Ronaldo has always maintained, as he does today, that what occurred in Las Vegas in 2009 was consensual in nature, so it is not surprising that DNA would be present, nor that the police would make this very standard request as part of their investigation."