The singer of the Italian group Maneskin, which won Eurovision 2021, will submit to drug testing after behavior reported as suspicious during the music competition, its organizers announced on Sunday.
"The group has strongly rejected the allegations of drug use and the singer in question will voluntarily submit to testing upon his return home,"
the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said in a statement.
"They asked for it themselves last night but it could not be arranged immediately by the EBU."
Damiano David will undergo a test upon his return to Italy after the controversy caused by a viral video in which he can be seen lowering and touching the table with his nose in full competition on Saturday in Rotterdam, images which were seen live worldwide.
Read also: Eurovision 2021: Italy wins, France 2nd with Barbara Pravi
The singer was asked about the incident during the winning group's press conference and explained that he leaned over because guitarist Thomas Raggi had just broken a glass.
“I don't do drugs.
Please, guys.
Don't say that, really.
No cocaine.
Please don't say that, ”
replied Damiano David.
The group then said on their Instagram account:
"We are ready to undergo tests because we have nothing to hide."
“We are really shocked that some are saying that Damiano is on drugs.
We are really AGAINST drugs and we have never taken cocaine ”
, they assured.
The mystery of the broken glass
EBU argued that there was evidence that a glass had been broken.
"We are aware of speculation concerning a video clip of the Italian winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Salon Vert last night
,
"
EBU said in its press release.
“The group, its leaders and the head of the delegation informed us that there were no drugs in the Salon Vert and they explained that a glass had been broken on the table and the singer was picking it up. "
on the images, she says.
“The EBU is able to confirm that a broken glass has indeed been found on site during an inspection. We are still analyzing the images carefully and will communicate as soon as we have anything new ”.
Italy, which pranced ahead of the favorites, won the 2021 Eurovision song contest, ahead of France and Switzerland, thanks to the powerful performance of the rockers of the group Måneskin.