Bachleot, who served in the role from 2007 to 2010 under former President Nicolas Sarkozy, alleged that the reason for the Spaniard missing a seven-month period in 2012 was because he had failed a drugs test.

“I also wish to avoid any public figure making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished,” Nadal said.

The lawsuit has been filed at a court in Paris in response to Bachleot’s comments last month, when she claimed “we know that Nadal’s famous seven-month injury was without a doubt due to a positive control”.

She added: "When you see a tennis player who stops playing for long months, it is because he has tested positive and because they are covering it up."

Bachelot made the claim in the wake of Russian Maria Sharapova, winner of five Grand Slam titles, announcing she had tested positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open in January.

Nadal, who recently won the Barcelona Open with a straight sets victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the final, had threatened to sue anyone who followed Bachelot, who is no longer involved in politics, in labelling him a drugs cheat.

The 29-year-old has constantly faced accusations of doping throughout his career but he has strenuously denied any suggestions he has taken performance enhancing drugs.

Nadal had claimed at the time he was “tired” of people accusing him of cheating and that he “let it go a few times in the past – but not anymore”.

A statement from Nadal's agent read. “This legal proceeding was instigated after Miss Bachelot made offensive remarks last March on le Grand 8 programme on French channel D8.

“Through this case, I intend not only to defend my integrity and my image as an athlete but also the values I have defended all my career.”

Bachelot’s comments were the latest in a long line of allegations levelled at Nadal after former French Open champion Yannick Noah wrote a newspaper article in 2011 which suggested that Spanish sporting success was achieved because of doping.

Belgium’s Christopher Rochus, a former professional on the men’s circuit, also hinted Nadal was a drugs cheat after questioning him cruising to yet another French Open title in 2012 before missing Wimbledon with injury.