A Positive Drug Test Reported for Maradona
Diego Maradona, the captain of Argentina's national team and of the defending Italian League champion, Naples, tested positive for drugs after a recent game, his team said yesterday in Rome.
Giorgio Perinetti, a director of the team, said that the Italian Soccer Federation had notified team president Corrado Ferlaino of the test results, but would not say what Maradona had tested positive for.
La Repubblica reported that Maradona tested positive after a 1-0 victory by Naples over Bari on March 17. Maradona assisted on the game's goal.
A spokesman for the Italian Soccer Federation refused comment on La Repubblica's report, but did say that results of a second test would be available by the end of the week. A second test is given, in the presence of a doctor apppointed by the player or his club, when the post-game test is positive.
Maradona, who will miss tomorrow's game against Internazionale of Milan because of a one-game suspension for arguing with referees, did not attend the team's practice yesterday and could not be reached for comment.
Regulations provide for suspensions of from six months to two years for players who test positive. Any suspension made by the Italian federation would automatically be extended worldwide by FIFA, soccer's governing body. (AP)  SPORTS PEOPLE: SOCCER