ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Argentine soccer icon Diego Maradona remains in Buenos Aires hospital

Argentine soccer super star Diego Maradona continued in stable condition on Friday (March 30) in a Buenos Aires hospital, two days after the star was admitted for treatment for a health crisis caused by heavy drinking. The 46-year-old star revered as one of the game's best players has battled obesity and cocaine addiction. Fans of the national hero who led Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986 posted signs outside the hospital while the press lined up to listen to Friday's update from doctors. Doctor Hector Pezzella said Maradona's condition was improving. "The patient continues to be stable. As we said yesterday, luckily he's still okay and he's coming along very well. The clinical signs are not changing. He's done some things- he woke up and ate breakfast, so he's actively participated in some things. He's still under the effect of sedatives as part of his detox program we referred to yesterday. The results of his tests are within acceptable levels, which means that his chronic liver problems and the elements that are part of his health problems are not serious," Dr. Pezzella said. The doctor went on to say that test results measuring the state of his liver and pancreas were better on Friday than earlier in the week. "These are routine tests. We measured some indicators in the pancreas and the liver to make sure his liver problems aren't changing or getting worse. He's doing well. In fact, his numbers today are better than yesterday." Speaking on Thursday, Maradona's personal physician, Dr. Alfredo Cahe, blamed his patient's jet-set lifestyle, family problems and an addictive personality for his fresh bout of health troubles. Maradona's hospital stay was a reminder of the repeated health problems -- many of them drug-related --- he has faced since retiring from the game in 1997. Maradona was suspended for drugs while playing in Italy in 1991 and kicked out of the 1994 World Cup after a dope test -- which he blamed on one of his coaching team buying the wrong medicine off a supermarket shelf. In 2000, Maradona was hospitalized with a severe heart problem while on vacation in Uruguay and tested positive for cocaine before undergoing drug rehabilitation in Cuba . Four years later, he spent 10 days in intensive care with heart and breathing problems and re-entered rehabilitation. A stomach-stapling operation in 2005 helped Maradona shed 66 pounds (30 kg) but recent television images have showed him again overweight and bloated. Cahe said just days ago that Maradona had put on weight and smoked too many cigars, and was planning a trip to Switzerland to get himself back in shape.

ITN Source | March 31, 2007

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