It’s been 25 years since Maradona’s third positive of his career

25 years ago, the unlucky Diego Armando Maradona tested positive for the third time in his career. On August 28, 1997, the AFA (Argentine Football Association) announced the presence of “prohibited substances” in a urine sample taken from ‘Pelusa’ four days before Boca-Argentinos Juniors played at La Bombonera (4 -2), from the first day of the Opening Tournament.

There is no doubt that it was positive for cocaine, confirmation that the life of Maradona, who died on November 25, 2020, continued to depend, at the age of 36, on the drug despite the fact that his fitness caused the his hope. to fans who have overcome their addiction.

To no avail that, five hours before jumping on the field, the test Boca decided to subject him to before the game was negative.

the damn little ball

Maradona scored during the match a penalty goal against Argentinos Juniors, the team where he started his career, and then, in the locker room, he complained bitterly when he found out that the ball with his number, 10, is drawn on the control draw. anti-doping.

Maradona retired from football for a year and underwent an intense training plan for more than two months to prepare for his fifth return to football. He lost eleven kilos. He even went to Canada to do the final phase of his tune-up with athlete Ben Johnson. another victim of doping… He seems to have controlled his drug addiction, a problem in which he has been falling since his stay in Barcelona.

he played again

Despite the fact that he came back positive in the counter-analysis test, Maradona was able to play a few more games as his lawyers got a judge to overturn the provisional suspension imposed on him by the AFA after he positively investigates whether the player is the victim of a plot

In particular, Maradona and his representative, Guillermo Coppola, in April 1997 denounced the alleged threats, some unknown voices assured that “they will put drugs on them.” ‘Pelusa’ insists he has not taken cocaine and his lawyers have requested a urine DNA test to prove it.

Reasons for withdrawal

Despite avoiding suspension, Maradona decided to announce his retirement on October 29, just one day before his 37th birthday, asserting that “I am bitter and fed up with the lies” after of the versions aired the previous day in Buenos Aires about the death. of his father and the new positive that he would have given after the anti-doping control after the superclassic win against River Plate in the Monumental (1-2). That game, played on October 25, 1997, would be the last game of his illustrious career.

Maradona argued that he made the decision to hang up his boots permanently after talking to his father. “I’ve made up my mind, I quit soccer,” Diego said. “My old man came to me crying to tell me that he promised him if they talk about doping again. I do this because my father is above all.” The next day he turned 37. “This will be the saddest birthday of my life, but nothing will change my mind.” So it is.

This was Maradona’s third positive result in his entire career. In the previous two he has faced two fifteen-month suspensions, so in six years he has been inactive for three and a half.

The two previous positives

On March 17, 1991, Maradona tested positive for cocaine after a Napoli match against Bari and the Italian Football Federation imposed a 15-month suspension on him.

On June 25, 1994, Maradona tested positive for ephedrine in a test conducted after helping the Argentina team to victory over Nigeria (2-1) in the group stage of the World Cup in the United States. FIFA banned him for 15 months.