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Italy Eurovision winners Maneskin return home to cheers, a drug test Rumours spread on social media after lead singer Damiano David was seen bending over a table during the live television broadcast.
Members of the band Maneskin from Italy Thomas Raggi, from left, Ethan Torchio, Victoria De Angelis and Damiano David pose for photographers with the trophy after winning the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, May 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
24 May 2021 07:30AM Share this content
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Eurovision chiefs issue update on Italy winners Maneskin after drugs claims David Bentley
The Eurovision Broadcasting Union, which organises the annual contest, says it is examining video footage that showed Damiano David lowering his head over a table in the green room.
The singer has volunteered to take a drugs test when he gets home.
Viewers questioned what they were seeing when Damiano was seen on camera bending over a table, with some suspecting he had been caught snorting cocaine.
One asked on Twitter: Did someone just do a line live on Eurovision telly?
But the singer insisted he was looking down after another band member broke a glass on the floor.
AP
ROME The Italian glam rock band that won the Eurovision Song Contest returned home Sunday to the adulation of fans, congratulations from the government and so much speculation that the lead singer had snorted cocaine during the show that he vowed to take a drug test.
“We want to shut down the rumors,” Maneskin lead singer Damiano David told reporters at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport as the band arrived home after their victory in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Rumors spread on social media after David was seen bending over a table during the Saturday night live television broadcast. Asked at a post-victory news conference whether he’d snorted cocaine, David said he doesn’t use drugs and that he’d bent over because another band member had broken a glass at their feet.
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Eurovision Song Contest organisers say the lead singer of Italian glam rock band Maneskin has tested negative for drug use, putting an end to speculation that had tarnished the bandâs victory.
âWe consider the matter closed,â the European Broadcasting Union, which produces the annual kitsch-filled song festival, said in a statement on Monday.
Damiano David performs with Maneskin at Eurovision.
Credit:EBU
EBU said it came to the conclusion after it reviewed all the available footage of the TV broadcast on Saturday night and saw the negative results of Maneskin singer Damiano Davidâs voluntarily drug test.
Rumours had swirled on social media â and were raised at a Eurovision news conference â that David had snorted cocaine when he was seen leaning awkwardly over a table during the live TV broadcast. David immediately rejected the claim, saying he never uses drugs and that he was leaning over because his guitarist had broken a glass.