Prague (AFP) - Czech Republic's ice hockey coach Vladimir Ruzicka on Tuesday resigned amid a bribery scandal, blaming a media campaign.
"I've decided to stand down following a concerted media campaign directed against me since April," he explained in a statement released by his lawyer.
"I've never done anything illegal and I will continue to defend myself, to clear my name," he added.
The 52-year-old former Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators center allegedly accepted a bribe worth 500,000 Czech koruna (18,000 euros, $20,000) in the 2012-2013 season when coaching Czech top-flight side Slavia Prague.