Brazil From time of 2002 World Cup

Roberto Carlos: Cristiano Ronaldo sets the tone in modern football

Roberto Carlos has been named in a German documentary which investigated doping in Brazilian sport and which has alleged that banned substances could have been taken around the time of the 2002 World Cup.

It cites a 200-page report from the Brazilian anti-doping agency, which was written in 2015 and which investigated the dubious practices of a doctor, who appeared to distribute banned substances to sportspeople and who helped them to manipulate the anti-doping tests.

According to the documentary, which aired on German public TV station ARD on Saturday night, there is a testimony contained in this report claiming that Roberto Carlos was seen at the clinic of the doctor in question in July 2002.

Undercover journalists positing as representatives of footballers secretly filmed meetings with the doctor, who sold them hormonal substances which feature on the World Anti-Doping Agency's blacklist.

Their hidden cameras even caught the clinician saying that one of his past patients was the former Real Madrid left-back and that he'd provided him with illicit substances, although he then refused to comment when the journalists later followed up on those claims in an official manner.

The Brazilian FA also declined to comment on the allegations, but the player did defend himself.

"I strongly dispute the irresponsible allegations made by ARD and I reaffirm that I never used any trick to gain an advantage over my colleagues," he said.

"The report cites the name of a doctor who I have never known in my life, and my lawyers are already working to tackle these allegations in court and to ask for public evidence in front of a judge."

Given that the doctor does not officially work with any sporting federation, he is still practicing today.