---
title: "Zouma blames drug test for Costa out-burst"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2015/09/25/zouma-blames-drug-test-costa-burst/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2015-09-25T13:11:22Z"
modified: "2015-09-25T13:14:12Z"
---

# Zouma blames drug test for Costa out-burst

The [Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11890869/Chelsea-news-Kurt-Zouma-blames-drugs-test-for-calling-Diego-Costa-a-cheat.html) are reporting that Chelsea central defender Kurt Zouma has apologised to team-mate Diego Costa following an interview in which Zouma was quoted as calling Costa a ‘cheat’. Zouma has blamed it on having to do a post match drugs test.

There was an outbreak of controversy after the quotes from Zouma were published after Chelsea’s feisty encounter with London rivals Arsenal at the weekend.

Diego Costa has been retrospectively banned by the FA for three matches for violent conduct after grappling with Gabriel and Koscielny of Arsenal.

Zouma was [quoted](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/diego-costa-branded-cheat-chelsea-6487203) as saying this after the match:

> Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponent out of his game.

Zouma did tweet afterwards saying that English is not his first language and that he was not trying to call Costa a cheat and that it was taken out of context.

Now he went a step further by having an interview with the[Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelseas-kurt-zouma-diego-costa-is-not-a-cheat-and-should-never-change-a2955592.html), in which he said that he has said sorry to Diego Costa and explained that he was selected for a post match drugs test, which added to how tired he was going into the interview.

The Frenchman said:

> I did a mistake because I just wanted to say that Diego likes to put pressure on his opponent. After the game, I was tired and was chosen for doping control so I wanted to go quickly back to my house.
>
> I didn’t remember what I said and I didn’t expect it to come out like it did. It was a mistake and I am really sorry for it. It is my second year in England and my English is not perfect. Everybody can do mistakes. This day, I did.
>
> I never thought Diego is a cheat. He is a friend. I like this guy. On the pitch he gives everything for the club and the team. I hope he will continue like this. He should not change.
>
> I spoke to him and said, ‘Sorry, mate’ because I didn’t want to say that. English is not my first language, so I did not mean it. He told me: ‘It’s OK, no problem. I know what you wanted to say’.

Kurt Zouma clearly very sorry about his remarks and you can understand how someone who doesn’t speak amazing English could make a mistake like that and the situation be blown out of proportion.

**W****hat do you make of Costa’s actions, do you support what he does or think he should change?**