RIO DE JANEIRO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazil forward Robinho hasasked Pele to retract his reported drug-taking remarks made last week over the Manchester City striker.

    Robinho added in a statement on his website that he would take legal action if Pele did not back down.

    "A formal retraction from Pele will be requested, if what he said was not misinterpreted by the media that published it," the statement said.

    "And if Pele does not come forward, he will have to deal with his very unfortunate comment in court."

    Robinho was raised at Santos, the same Brazilian club where Pele spent nearly all his career.