Maradona recovering but to remain in the hospital

BUENOS AIRES, Mar 31 (Reuters) Soccer great Diego Maradona is recovering well but remained sedated today, three days after he was hospitalised for alcohol abuse, his personal doctor said.

Maradona, 46, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup championship and the 1990 finals, was likely to be in detoxication at a Buenos Aires clinic for several more days, said Dr Alfredo Cahe.

''For now, things are going well. He's resting, sedated, but this story has only just began,'' Cahe told reporters.

Maradona -- who together with Pele were named by soccer's governing body, FIFA, as the two greatest players of the 20th century -- has struggled with obesity and cocaine addiction since he retired in 1997.

He was taken to the private Guemes clinic in an ambulance on Wednesday and ordered to undergo treatment for excessive drinking, eating and cigar smoking, the latest bout in the star's battle with health troubles, most of them drug-related.

His doctors say his current problems were not brought on by drug use but Maradona's ''addictive'' personality.

''Diego never smoked and now he was smoking excessively, not to mention cigars,'' Cahe said.

Maradona was hospitalized in 2000 and 2004, both times with severe heart problems stemming from his cocaine use.

He underwent drug rehabilitation in Cuba and Argentina before a stomach-stapling operation in 2005 helped him shed about 66 pounds (30 kg).

Later that year, he went on to host his own TV talk show after declaring himself fully recovered, but has recently appeared overweight in public, and frequently clutching a cigar.

REUTERS AD BST0247