The New York Times claimed that Musk was given advanced warnings of drug tests as part of his role as chief executive of SpaceX, his rocket business, which must maintain a drug-free workforce as a government contractor.
Musk has previously said he disliked drug-taking, telling his biographer Walter Isaacson: “I really don’t like doing illegal drugs.”
He also denied that he had a problem with ketamine in an interview last year.
“If you’ve used too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done, and I have a lot of work,” he said, while confirming he took a “small amount” for medical reasons.
On X on Tuesday, Musk shared a post from a follower, which said: “If Elon is on any drugs, I want what he’s having.”
‘Never failed a test’
The billionaire has said he has a prescription for ketamine “for when my brain chemistry sometimes goes super negative”. He has questioned the efficacy of more mainstream anti-depressants.
“Occasional use of ketamine is a much better option, in my opinion,” he said in 2023.
Musk has faced numerous reports from US newspapers alleging he has used illegal drugs, which he has repeatedly denied.
Last year, the Wall Street Journal claimed the billionaire had taken illegal drugs multiple times, including cocaine, LSD and ecstasy at private parties where attendees have signed non-disclosure agreements.
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At the time, Alex Spiro, Musk’s lawyer, said the SpaceX and Tesla chief was “regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test”.
In 2018, Musk was scrutinised by Nasa after he smoked cannabis with podcaster Joe Rogan.
Nasa later paid SpaceX $5m to conduct a review to ensure the company is “following strict guidelines for federal contractors barring illegal drug use”.
On Tuesday, Musk took aim at the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in a post on X.
The publishers of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal were contacted for comment.
Telegraph, London
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