ZURICH: FIFA president Joao Havelange wanted to hush up Diego Maradona’s notorious dope test failure at the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States, according to Sepp Blatter, then the world federation’s general secretary writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Blatter, currently under suspension by the FIFA ethics committee, describes events surrounding the incident which prompted worldwide headlines in his new autobiography**.

Maradona had been Argentina’s inspirational Cup-winning captain in 1986, had led them to the 1990 final and remained the biggest name in the game despite his well-catalogued problems with drugs going into the 1994 tournament.

During the group stage he failed a dope test after Argentina’s 2-1 win over Nigeria.

Blatter says: “Maradona tested positive for ephedrine as well as four other banned products. He claimed innocence and that he had taken medicine after a cold.

“Joao Havelange, the organising committee chairman Guillermo Canedo from Mexico, and the Argentinian FA president Julio Grondona, wanted us not to reveal the affaire, proposing to deal with it ‘later’.”

However Blatter says that, having learned his lesson after being slapped down over political issues at previous World Cups, was having none of it.

He says: “Maradona was found guilty of doping . . . and was immediately excluded from the World Cup. No longer was I prepared to be the ‘silly little general secretary’ who should not become involved in politics. I insisted on immediate action against Maradona.”

** Ma Verite by Sepp Blatter (with Pascal Schouwey). Published by Editions Heloise d’Ormesson.

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