I have fears for Jackson’s health, says biographer

Fresh doubts over Michael Jackson's health were raised today by his unofficial biographer.

The 50-year-old singer, who yesterday announced his retirement and lucrative residency at the O2 arena, will launch a double assault on the pop charts and box office this summer. Jackson, who is more than £100 million in debt, will release
a new single before the first gig on 8 July.

Tickets go on sale next week amid promises from promoters AEG Live that the singer has passed a stringent medical and is in "tremendous shape".

The series of London concerts will kick off a three-year "farewell" tour that will net AEG £280 million.

But Ian Halperin, writing a biography on the star, claimed Jackson is hiding the full extent of his ill health. In an interview on GMTV, he said: "People on medication – they get shots of energy. Michael has been in a Beverly Hills private clinic getting special injections the past few weeks. And I'm just warning you will he show up, who knows? I'm still going to keep a close eye because I'm not convinced it's going to go down as everyone watching this show thinks today."

Halaperin, who says he has a team of six researchers investigating Jackson for his book, claimed last year the star was suffering from Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, a disorder that depletes the protein that protects the liver and lungs. This was denied by Jackson's spokesman at the time.