PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds the ball after scoring during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between PSG and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Wednesday, April 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM (AP) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suing a Swedish former athletics coach who said he believed the soccer star had taken banned substances to gain weight while playing for Juventus.
Ibrahimovic's lawyer Fredrik Bogren told Swedish news agency TT he would file a lawsuit Monday against Ulf Karlsson for comments he made at a panel discussion in the city of Karlstad last week.
Local paper Nya Wermlandstidningen quoted Karlsson as saying "Zlatan gained 10 kilograms in half a year at Juventus. I think he doped."
Karlsson later apologized saying his statements were unclear and unfortunate.
But Bogren said the allegations were "untrue, groundless and very serious for Ibrahimovic as an individual and athlete as well as in relation to his sponsors and cooperation partners."
Ibrahimovic, who is currently at Paris Saint-Germain, played for Juventus in 2004-2006.
PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts after missing a penalty kick during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between PSG and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Wednesday, April 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Associated Press
PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds the ball after scoring during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between PSG and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Wednesday, April 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Associated Press
PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, center, dribbles Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi, right, and Manchester City's Bacary Sagna during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between PSG and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Wednesday, April 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Associated Press