Ex-world boxing champion Joe Calzaghe has apologised after a newspaper's allegations that he has taken drugs.

A statement on his website said he regretted his "occasional use of cocaine" since retiring from the ring.

But he said was fully aware it set a bad example to others and although "not a major problem" in his life it was something he was "actively addressing".

The 38-year-old from Newbridge, south Wales, also criticised the reporting tactics used by the News Of The World.

The super-middleweight retired from boxing in February 2009 as Britain's only undefeated boxing world champion with 46 wins from 46 fights.

He is a former winner of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and took part in the last series of Strictly Come Dancing.

He said he felt he had been the victim of a sting operation by the newspaper, whose reporters posed as the London representatives of a Russian investment bank.


It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing
Joe Calzaghe statement

Calzaghe said he had been unaware he had been secretly filmed and many of the discussions took place in a "relaxed environment" where not everything said was "meant seriously."

He wrote on his website: "I am deeply sorry if anyone feels let down and I will make sure that nothing like it happens again.

"Over the course of the last 24 hours I have been in discussions with my family, friends, my management team, my sponsors and charitable partners, in particular the team at Help for Heroes, who have given me their full support and continued backing on the fundraising initiatives I have recently commenced.

"Others I have also spoken to today have given me their full support to get over this and help me deal with some of the issues that have been raised."

'Embarrassment'

He questioned if it was the "proper function of a free press" to have journalists using "this sort of underhand deception" to get a story "which they hope will sell newspapers by knocking someone down."

His website also included the statement issued to the newspaper.

It read: "I very much regret my occasional use of cocaine in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring.

"I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans.

"It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing.

"Many of the other conversations reported to have taken place simply involve men joshing or shooting the breeze over a drink.

"While some statements are either untrue or exaggerations I am, naturally, sorry for any embarrassment their publication may cause to entirely blameless third parties."