ANNA KOURNIKOVA - HOCKEY STAR SUES OVER KOURNIKOVA CLAIMS

Hockey star PAVEL BURE has sued a Russian magazine for $10.6 million (GBP5.6 million) over his "great moral suffering" about a supposed sexual relationship with tennis player ANNA KOURNIKOVA.

The 33-year-old sports ace is taking legal action against ARBAT PRESTIGE TELEGID after it ran a story in December (04) describing sex claims, allegedly made by the former NEW YORK RANGER player about the blonde sports star.

Bure has already won a $17,770 (GBP9,400) settlement over similar claims made in Moscow newspaper THE EXILE in 2001.

His lawyer DMITRY RAGULIN says, "The magazine has violated the civil right of my client. And according to the constitution he is entitled to seek financial damages for his great moral suffering.

Kournikova met Brue in 1999 when she was dating his former team mate SERGEI FEDOROV, who she later married in a secret ceremony in Moscow, Russia in 2001. However, they have since divorced and Kournikova is reportedly married to ENRIQUE IGLESIAS.

Her spokesperson YULIA SOLNTSEVA comments, "As far as the Exile story is concerned, I don't know if Anna felt offended.

"At least, I haven't heard any complaints from her about that case. Maybe she just didn't care."