I never encouraged players for sex: Kirsten

India's cricket coach Gary Kirsten on Friday expressed his deep hurt and anguish at the quotes attributed to him that he has been trying to encourage the players towards sexual activity in order to improve their performance.

Kirsten read out a prepared statement at a press conference, saying that he was pained by stories that he had encouraged the players to indulge in sexual activities.

"My family and I have been deeply offended and hurt by the many allegations that I encouraged the Indian players to engage in sexual activity before a match.

"I would like to state that I have never, and I repeat, never encouraged or told the team or any player to engage in any form of sexual activity. These allegations are absolutely not true and completely against my religious and moral beliefs," he said.

The former South African opener said the report was prepared by mental conditioner Paddy Upton just to provide information to the players and not for its implementation nor to be used as team strategy.

"The leaked article was compiled by Paddy Upton and provided information for the players on relationship between sexual activity and sports performance. I never wrote the article and read it for the first time two days ago. It has never been and never will be part of team strategy", Kirsten said.

"I have been deeply disturbed by these false allegations and wish to focus my attention on helping Team India have a successful Champions Trophy." The Indian players had been handed out a four-part document which broadly envisaged an active sexual life and a disciplined food and sporting habits, aimed at helping the players on and off the field.

The document, the contents of which were quite unusual, looked back into India's history, its food habits and its lack of aggression.