Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson says she is not romantically involved with a convicted drug smuggler.
The 44-year-old says Brian Burgess, 56, is just a friend and she knows of his past.
"Miss Macpherson emphatically denies that there is any romantic association between her and Mr Brian Burgess," a statement issued by the model's representatives said.
"Miss Macpherson is disappointed her friendship with Mr Burgess has been so casually misrepresented for commercial sensationalism.
"Miss Macpherson is aware of Mr Burgess' past conduct and also that Mr Burgess has and continues to take significant steps towards restoring his life.
"Any continued misrepresentation or invasion of privacy is likely to be the subject of legal proceedings."
Burgess, 56, was convicted of drug trafficking in Australia in 1996 and was sentenced to four years for attempting to smuggle two kilograms of cocaine from the US. He was deported to England, where he was born, after he served his sentence.
The rumours of a romance began when she was pictured with the blond removal van boss driving in her Aston Martin convertible through London's upmarket suburb of Chelsea.
The News of the World reported Macpherson collected Burgess from a Chelsea car showroom where he had been looking at Jaguar cars.
"Brian was saying how he had been seeing a new girlfriend for a few weeks," the tabloid reported an onlooker as saying.
Burgess was also reported as saying: `I've got to go, she's picking me up'.
"Then Elle turns up in her car. I couldn't believe it."
