Argentina's Maradona moved to psychiatric clinic

BUENOS AIRES, Apr 21 (Reuters) Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona checked himself into a psychiatric clinic today for substance abuse rehabilitation after almost three weeks of hospitalization for alcoholic hepatitis, his doctor told Reuters.

Maradona was transferred from the Los Arcos Sanatorium, where he was receiving medical treatment, to the Avril clinic, also in Buenos Aires.

''He signed an institutional protocol that the clinic demands in these cases (consenting to be treated there). He liked the place and he stayed,'' Dr. Alfredo Cahe, Maradona's personal physician, told Reuters by telephone.

Cahe has said that Maradona, 46, has an ''addictive personality.'' Maradona is considered one of the most brilliant soccer players in history and is idolized in Argentina after he led the country's team to the 1986 World Cup championship.

He has had repeated problems with cocaine, alcohol and obesity over most of the last two decades.

Maradona, who retired from professional soccer in 1997, was hospitalized in 2000 and 2004, both times with severe heart problems stemming from his cocaine use. But a far back as the late 1980s his professional life was affected by failure to pass antidoping tests.

He underwent drug rehabilitation at a Argentine psychiatric center three years ago before continuing treatment in Cuba.

Infobae online news service said the Avril clinic is a luxurious center with around-the-clock psychiatric care, green areas and sports facilities.

Reuters DH VP0237