Former Russian Footballer Aleksei Bugayev jailed for drug trafficking

Aleksei Bugayev, a former Russian international footballer, has been sentenced to nine and a half years in a high-security prison for drug trafficking.

The 43-year-old, who earned seven caps for Russia and played for Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar, was convicted of attempting to sell 500 grams of methyl ephedrine, a substance typically used in cold medications but often repurposed as a narcotic.

Bugayev was arrested after authorities tracked him retrieving the drugs from a hidden location.

He was reportedly preparing to travel to Sochi to sell the substances when police found the drugs in his possession.

Initially denying the charges and resisting arrest, Bugayev later admitted guilt during his trial, which helped reduce his sentence.

Without the confession, he could have faced up to 20 years in prison under Russian law.

Bugayev had been in custody since November and will now serve his time in a high-security facility.

The case marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former defender, whose once-promising football career has been overshadowed by criminal activity.