Maradona in intensive care
Published on : 13/04/2007
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World Cup-winning footballer Diego Maradona has been re-admitted to hospital - this time to the intensive care unit - just two days after he was last discharged.
The legendary Argentinean, famous for his mazy dribbling skills and his 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, was originally hospitalised after suffering acute hepatitis as a result of alcohol abuse two weeks ago.
He discharged himself from the Buenos Aires public sanatorium on Wednesday morning but has since complained of severe abdominal pains.
He will be undergoing further tests today but his personal physician, Alfredo Cahe, told the gathered press that Maradona's stay in the intensive care unit was "nothing to be too concerned about".
"The situation is not life-threatening," Cahe said. "But he is in intensive care as a precaution."
Maradona's career and life after football has been blighted by a series of problems with various addictions.
After leading his country to two consecutive World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, he was sent home in disgrace from the 1994 tournament for taking the banned stimulant ephedrine.
This followed a 15-month ban from professional sport after he tested positive for cocaine in Italy in 1991.
The 46-year-old has also battled obesity and related heart problems since his retirement in 1997.
