Former Bulls center Eddy Curry denied a report in the New York Daily News that he began taking the controversial dietary supplement ephedra during the summer of 2004 in an attempt to lose weight.

Ephedra is not recommended for anyone who has experienced heart trouble, and Curry, who was traded from the Bulls to the New York Knicks on Oct. 4, was sidelined late last season because of an irregular heartbeat, as well as an enlarged heart diagnosed after the alleged consumption of ephedra.

Curry's condition and the Bulls' demand that he take a genetic test the team believed could determine if his condition was potentially fatal -- a test that Curry refused -- ultimately led to general manager John Paxson's decision to deal Curry to the Knicks.

Curry told the Daily News he never took ephedra.

''I wasn't taking any supplements,'' he said. ''I cut out bread and sugar from my diet. I lost something like 35 pounds and I came [into the Bulls' 2004 training camp] at 275 pounds. I felt uncomfortable. I didn't feel myself at all. I wanted to play at 285 or 290.''

Citing an unnamed source, the Daily News reported Sunday that Curry took pills containing ephedra provided by Tim Grover, Curry's Chicago-based trainer.

Ephedra has been linked to more than 100 deaths.