Denis Menchov (Katusha) has categorically denied charges levelled against him by former Rabobank teammate Michael Rasmussen on Thursday that he received illicit blood transfusions at an Austrian blood bank.

This week Rasmussen is giving testimony before a Dutch court in a long-running squabble over money with his ex-Rabobank team for damages sustained as a result of his enforced dismissal while leading the 2007 Tour de France.

As part of that trial, the Danish rider also testified that he shared blood doping habits with Menchov, who was a Rabobank teammate at the time.

Racing this week at Paris-Nice, Menchov emphatically refuted the allegations.

“No, it’s not true,” the Russian told Dutch TV-station NOS.nl when asked if he blood doped. “I don’t have any comments about doping.”

When a Dutch journalist insisted, Menchov also repudiated knowing alleged doping instigator Stefan Matschiner, the agent of former Gerolsteiner rider Bernhard Kohl who organized blood-doping practices.

“I do not know him,” Menchov said. “If you want to talk about sport, I will answer your questions. Otherwise I have no comment.”