Madonna denies adoption claim

Madonna

Madonna has not used her celebrity status to speed the adoption of a little boy from a South African country, says her spokeswoman.

Madonna's effort to add Malawian toddler David Banda to her family again came under the spotlight when the Malawian official scheduled to go to London to assess the adoption was removed from the case.

Allegedly he had solicited money from the singer for his trip. The dismissal breathed new life into allegations that the singer used her celebrity status to circumvent Malawian adoption laws - allegations she denies.

A report is expected to be filed before the Malawian courts by the February deadline for a judge to determine whether Madonna and her husband are suitable adoptive parents.