Former Bulls forward Toni Kukoc has denied being a beneficiary to an elite prostitution ring which was recently uncovered in his native Croatia.

According to the Croatian Times, a young woman went on record to say she had sexual relations with Kukoc.

(Quote after the jump.)

"I went there, I can’t remember the name of the hotel. In the hotel I had sexual relations with [Toni] Kukoc who paid me 500 Euros," she said.

The Croatian Times quoted Kukoc as "not guilty" and added he "shrugged his shoulders" at the allegations.

"I was in worse situations in life. What should I do? Return home to Split? Of course I will stay in Osijek," Kukoc told the media.

Kukoc's name has been tied to Nebojsa Perunovic Pance, who was arrested last week. Pance is suspected of "pimping young starlets, wanna-be-models and other beautiful girls to Austrian businessmen, rich Russians, and it appears, sports stars."

(h/t Deadspin)

Bobby Loesch is the associate editor of the Chicago sports blog Tremendous Upside Potential and a daily contributor to SB Nation Chicago. Follow him on Twitter @bobbystompy.