Russian authorities have opened an investigation into rape accusations against a footballer from leading premier league side CSKA Moscow, officials said on Monday

The investigative committee of prosecutors said in a statement that a woman resident in Moscow and born in 1988 had come forward last week with a claim that she had been raped by the footballer.

“Forensic investigations are being carried out and all the circumstances are being established,” the statement said.

It said the length of the investigation — an initial probe that does not yet amount to a full criminal enquiry — had been extended  by 10 days to await the results of the tests.

The statement did not name the footballer, although Russian news  agencies said the probe concerned one of the club’s leading foreign-born international stars.

CSKA — whose full name translates as Central Army Sports Club - was the most successful Moscow club in the just completed season, finishing premier league runners up to champions Zenit St. Petersburg.

Its spokesman Sergei Aksenov told the Interfax news agency that the club was “surprised” by the news and would be giving no comment  for the moment.