Autopsy reveals Diego Maradona did not take drugs or drink alcohol in days before his death

An autopsy has shown Argentine football great Diego Maradona had problems with his heart, lungs and kidneys before he died last month.

Diego Maradona prior to the FIFA World Cup 2010 quarter final match between Argentina and Germany.

Diego Maradona prior to the FIFA World Cup 2010 quarter final match between Argentina and Germany. Source: EPA

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona did not consume alcohol or illicit narcotics in the days before his death, an autopsy has revealed.

Maradona, who died in November aged 60, had taken seven different medicines to treat depression, anxiety and other ailments but "there was no presence of (illegal) drugs", a judicial official told Reuters.
A man waves a flag commemorating soccer legend Diego Maradona outside the San Paolo stadium.
A man waves a flag commemorating football legend Diego Maradona outside the San Paolo stadium. Source: AP
The autopsy, which was based on blood and urine samples and released by the Buenos Aires Scientific Police, said Maradona had problems with his kidneys, heart and lungs.

Investigators are looking into various aspects of his death, which rocked Argentina and the wider football world.

The more detailed autopsy confirmed the results of one carried out immediately after his death that said the former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli player died from "acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy".
The charismatic 1986 World Cup winner, who was regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, had battled alcohol and drug addiction for much of his life.

A judge last week ruled that Maradona's body cannot be exhumed or cremated in case DNA is needed at a later date for use in paternity or other cases.

Maradona has five recognised children and six with filiation requests.

They are part of a complex inheritance process under way in Argentina.


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Source: AAP, SBS


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Autopsy reveals Diego Maradona did not take drugs or drink alcohol in days before his death | SBS News