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Maradona tests positive again Cocaine found in hospitalized soccer star's system
Posted: Wednesday January 05, 2000 07:36 PM
PUNTA DEL ESTE, Uruguay (AP) -- Blood and urine samples taken from Diego Maradona on Wednesday tested positive for cocaine use, a day after he was hospitalized for high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. Maximo Costa Rocha, police chief in the Uruguayan province of Moldando, said an initial round of testing had shown signs of "excessive cocaine" in the former soccer star's system. Rocha said Maradona had not been detained in the case, but added an investigation started, as is required by Uruguayan law when someone tests positive for drug use. Maradona remained in intensive care Wednesday, in stable condition following treatment, his doctor said. Dr. Frank Torres said the former Argentina captain was responding favorably to treatment for his heart-related problems and reiterated that the his hospitalization was expected to be "brief." "He is stable and progressing well," Torres said. Maradona, 39, was placed in intensive care Tuesday. In addition to hypertension, doctors diagnosed Maradona as having "ventricular arrhythmia," one of several irregular heartbeat conditions. The condition can be fatal if not immediately treated. He was suspended for 15 months by the Italian League in March 1991 following a positive test for cocaine, and for another 15 months by FIFA in 1994 after testing positive for stimulants during the World Cup.
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