Nureyev Did Have AIDS, His Doctor Confirms

Michel Canesi, Rudolf Nureyev's doctor for the last nine years, announced today that the dancer and choreographer, who died in a suburban Paris hospital on Jan. 6, had had AIDS.

Although many people knew of Nureyev's illness, today's extensive interview in Le Figaro, the most widely read French national newspaper, was the first official confirmation that he had had the disease.

When Nureyev died on Jan. 6, Dr. Canesi reported the cause of death as "a cardiac complication following a grievous illness." The physician then added, "Following Mr. Nureyev's wishes, I can't say any more."

Asked today in a separate interview why he was now willing to discuss his patient's condition more frankly, Dr. Canesi said that he and Nureyev had determined the wording of the death announcement, and that in the press of events last week he had not altered it even though Nureyev had given him authority to do so.

"It was such a difficult time for all of us," the doctor said. "I didn't have time to change it. We had talked about it, and he said, 'Do what you think is O.K.' I gave the interview because I was thinking of the other people, the ones who are sick now."

In the Figaro interview, Dr. Canesi explained: "If I clarify things now, it is because there is no such thing as a shameful disease. I am thinking of all the anonymous patients who are suffering from being ostracized. Rudolf lived for 13 or 14 years with this virus, thanks to his force, his combativeness. People should know that. He was too famous to be able to hide the truth."