In a statement issued to Reuters, Michael Jackson’s spokesman Dr Tohme Tohme denied rumors and reports that had stated the singer needed a lung transplant since he was suffering from a rare genetic disease.

Moreover, he revealed that Ian Halperin, who gave rise to the rumors, had only claimed that Jacko was seriously ill in order to promote his unauthorised biography of the star.

In the Sunday Express, Halperin said that the artist was suffering from a condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which is known as a potentially deadly genetic illness.

Furthermore, the biographer stated that Michael Jackson could barely speak, suffered from emphysema and internal bleeding and had also lost 95% of the vision in his left eye due to the condition.

Now, Dr Tohme has invalidated all these allegations and told Reuters that Jackson was in good health and that he was finalising negotiations with a major entertainment company and television network concerning a world tour and a string of specials and appearances.

Nevertheless, in November, when the singer was involved in a legal battle over a music contract with Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, his lawyer informed the High Court that the artist could not travel to London to provide evidence in the case due to health issues.

At that time, medical experts concluded Jacko was well enough to travel, but the legal dispute with the Arab sheik was settled before he was scheduled to leave for the United Kingdom.