Naomi Campbell wins damages over elephant polo story

Naomi Campbell has been awarded damages from a British newspaper over false reports suggesting she was planning to organise an elephant polo tournament in India.

Campbell was left furious after editors at The Daily Telegraph published a story suggesting she was planning the controversial event for Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin's 50th birthday party in Jodhpur in November (13).

She sued for libel and was awarded "substantial" damages following a hearing at London's High Court on Thursday (31Jan13). She also received an apology from the newspaper's editors.

In a statement read out by her lawyer at the court, Campbell says, "There were never plans to hold an elephant polo tournament, so the allegations should not have been published. However I am glad that the matter has been resolved and I accept the newspaper's apology."