Published on: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
By: AFP
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Italy’s Maneskin said they were prepared to be tested ‘because we have nothing to hide’.
THE HAGUE: The singer for Italy’s Eurovision Song Contest winning rockers Maneskin will take a voluntary drug test after denying speculation that he was snorting cocaine during the broadcast, organisers said.
Red lederhosen-clad vocalist Damiano David will be tested after going back to Italy, following viral footage of him leaning over a table in the hospitality area of the competition in Rotterdam.
The furore comes after favourites Maneskin fought off stiff competition from France and Switzerland, surging to victory on the back of the public vote to win with 524 points with their song “Zitti e Buoni”.
Eurovision Winner Damiano David Cleared Of Drug Use
Eurovision Song Contest winner Damiano David has been cleared of using drugs at the event on Saturday.
Video footage from the telecast showed the Maneskin frontman leaning over a table with head bowed, prompting speculation of drug use, and accordingly, officials at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided to investigate, with David offering to take a voluntary drugs test.
On Monday, a statement from the EBU leaders announced the test was negative.
“A drug test was also voluntarily undertaken earlier today by the lead singer of the band Maneskin which has returned a negative result seen by the EBU,” they commented. “No drug use took place in the green room and we consider the matter closed.”
The Eurovision Broadcasting Union issued a statement and concluded no drug use took place in the Green Room and we consider the matter closed. The European Broadcasting Union as requested by the Italian delegation, has conducted a thorough review of the facts, including checking all available footage, the EBU said. A drug test was also voluntarily undertaken earlier today by the lead singer of the band Måneskin which has returned a negative result seen by the EBU.
EBU also stated it was alarmed that inaccurate speculation leading to fake news has overshadowed the spirit and the outcome of the event and unfairly affected the band.
Italian Eurovision winner cleared of drug use during contest after test
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25/05/2021 - 11:01 The Eurovision organisers EBU said the matter was closed after a negative drug result Kenzo Tribouillard AFP 3 min Damiano David, the flamboyant singer of Italy s Eurovision-winning rockers Maneskin, has tested negative for drugs, the contest organisers said Monday, following a furore over speculation he snorted cocaine at the final. Advertising Read more
The lederhosen-clad vocalist was tested after footage of him leaning over a table in the hospitality area of the competition in Rotterdam went viral.
Eurovision, the kitsch annual televised pop music extravaganza watched by hundreds of millions each year, is put together by the European Broadcasting Union.
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Damiano David, the flamboyant singer of Italy s Eurovision-winning rockers Maneskin, has tested negative for drugs, contest organisers said on Monday.
The red lederhosen-clad vocalist was tested after footage of him leaning over a table in the hospitality area of the competition in Rotterdam went viral.
Eurovision, the annual televised pop music extravaganza watched by
millions each year, is put together by the European Broadcasting Union.
The union, in Geneva, said that after claims of drug use backstage, it
reviewed the facts, including checking all available footage.
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It said David voluntarily had a drug test on Monday which has returned a negative result seen by the EBU .