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The 29-year-old issued a statement through his agent on
Monday saying he had filed a case for defamation against
Bachelot in the Paris law courts. Bachelot was health and sports
minister in 2007-2010 and social affairs minister until 2012.
"This legal proceeding was instigated after Miss Bachelot made
offensive remarks last March on le Grand 8 program on French
channel D8," the statement read. "Through this case, I intend
not only to defend my integrity and my image as an athlete but
also the values I have defended all my career.
Nadal added: "I also wish to avoid any public figure making
insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the
media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished."
Former world number one Nadal, who will attempt to win a 10th
French Open title this year, strenuously denies ever having
taken performance-enhancing substances.
He reacted angrily to comments made by Bachelot in which she
said his seven-month absence from the Tour through injury in
2012 was "probably due to a positive doping test".
At this year's Indian Wells tournament Nadal told reporters:
"This is going to be the last one, because I'm going to sue her.
"I am tired about these things. I let it go a few times in the
past. Not any more."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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