The Prikubansky District Court has received an appeal connected to a drug case involving former Moscow Torpedo football player Alexei Bugaev, according to the press service of the Unified Courts of the Krasnodar Territory. The update confirms that an objection was raised by the lawyer representing the player, and that a trial date has not yet been scheduled.
On November 1, the Shot Telegram channel reported that Bugaev was detained with 500 grams of mephedrone. A criminal case was initiated against him with charges including large-scale drug trafficking. He could face a lengthy prison term if convicted. He is also alleged to have worked as a drug courier and to have placed bookmarks near Kuban State University.
During his professional career, Alexei Bugaev represented several clubs, including Lokomotiv, Krasnodar, Tom, Khimki, and Torpedo. He is noted to have earned seven caps for the Russian national team, without scoring a goal. The former defender stepped away from professional football in 2010 at the age of 29.
Previously, legal counsel indicated questions about whether Bugaev possessed illegal substances. The ongoing proceedings and any forthcoming court dates remain under close watch by observers of the case and by the football community that followed his career through the years.