Diego Maradona has been admitted to intensive care in Uruguay suffering from heart problems. Frank Torres, a doctor at the private clinic in Punta Del Este, confirmed the 39-year-old former Argentina captain, who steered his country to victory in the 1986 World Cup, entered the clinic at about 17.30 GMT. "He was suffering from a hypertension attack with ventricular arrhythmia, complicated by the fact he already had high blood pressure", said Torres.
Maradona was accompanied to the hospital by his wife Claudia Villafane and manager Guillermo Coppola with whom he had been on holiday.
Torres added, "He is under observation and no complications are expected meaning he should only have a short stay in the clinic". When asked if the problems were brought about by a drug overdose, Torres refused to confirm or deny, answering only, "The hypertension problems could have many different causes". It has now been reported that the problems were caused by poor diet.
Maradona has had repeated drug problems and has had rehabilitation several times. He was even thrown out of the 1994 World Cup for failing a drug test and had a drugs ban while playing for Napoli in Italy. Maradona has recently been voted the Argentine Sportsperson of the Century.
