Former Brazil striker Adriano was charged by
Rio de Janeiro prosecutors on Tuesday for his
alleged connection with drug trafficking.
Prosecutors claim the striker bought a
motorcycle and gave it as a gift to a known
drug dealer in the shantytown where he grew
up.
It will be up to a judge whether to accept the
charges. Adriano could face up to 10 years in
prison if he is convicted.
It is not the first time he has been investigated
for his alleged ties to drug trafficking in Rio, but
he had never previously been charged. Several
years ago, prosecutors had requested a probe
into Adriano's purchase of the motorcycle,
which allegedly was registered in the name of
the drug dealer's mother and was used for drug
trafficking.
Prosecutors on Tuesday did not request Adriano's arrest but asked for him to surrender
his passport, claiming the player has enough money to try to flee the country if wanted.
Adriano and his lawyers could not be immediately contacted for comment.
The 32-year-old forward reportedly has been
negotiating with second-division French club Le Havre to return to football after several months
without a club. He travelled to France recently to meet with club officials, and French media
reported that a deal was close.
Adriano played a few games with Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense earlier this year after being out of action for nearly two years because of
injuries and off-field problems.
He began his career with Flamengo and played
for Inter Milan and AS Roma, among other clubs. He won four Serie A titles with Inter
Milan early in his career, and with Brazil he won
the 2004 Copa America and the 2005
Confederations Cup.
He was in the starting lineup for Brazil at the
2006 World Cup, when the team was eliminated
in the quarterfinals. Adriano was touted to make
the team in 2010 in South Africa after leading Flamengo to the national title a year earlier, but
was not included in the final squad. His last match with Brazil was in 2010.
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