After a bronze medal run with Team Russia at the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championships, Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov found himself under intense social media speculation on Monday when a video surfaced showing the Caps’ superstar center sitting next to a table with white powder which many speculated to be cocaine. Kuznetsov spoke to Russian sports website Sports Express, addressing the tweet that featured the video, which has since been deleted.

This is the video included in a tweet that was deleted Monday afternoon. The text of the tweet translated to “So that’s why we lost”:

Speaking to Sports Express, Kuznetsov said of the video, which was filmed last year in Las Vegas after the Capitals won the Stanley Cup:

#Kuznetsov – to @sportexpress about ‘cocaine tape’: I’ve never ever took any kind of drugs, I’m not going to. I’m ready to pass every medicine test to prove it. The tape was filmed in Vegas last summer. When I got there are prohibited drugs & unfamiliar woman, I left the room

— Yevgeni Belousov (@AliGoWeed) May 27, 2019

Kuznetsov, who recorded 72 points in 76 games played this past season and six points in seven playoff games, recently captured the Bronze Medal with Team Russia (and Capitals teammates) Alex Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov, helping the team with six points in 10 games played.

Unnamed account that uploaded the tape just deleted it. Since team Russia just returned from World Championship, I assume they just choose the right time

— Yevgeni Belousov (@AliGoWeed) May 27, 2019

A translation of Kuznetsov’s full response to Sport-Express.ru is provided below:

The Washington Capitals organization is aware of the video but did not want to comment at this time:

Caps spokesman: “We are aware of the video that surfaced on social media of Evgeny Kuznetsov. We are currently in the process of gathering facts and will have no further comment at this time.”

Kuznetsov was shown sitting next to two lines of white powder.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 27, 2019

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly was asked during the NHL’s annual state of the leage press conference if there would be any further investigation by the league:

Daly: re: Kuznetsov video that surfaced on social media today. “We’re not gonna have any definitive comments tonight, we became aware of the video this afternoon…we need a little more fact-gathering to know what our next steps are”

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 27, 2019

By Michael Fleetwood