Teammates deny Maradona charges of drug use
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Former Argentina teammates of Diego Maradona confirm his claims that there were no doping controls before World Cup playoffs with Australia in 1993, but said they had no knowledge of receiving performance-enhancing drugs.
Former Australia captain Paul Wade said yesterday that Argentina was under so much pressure to qualify for the 1994 finals that he would not be surprised if they had resorted to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
He added he was "absolutely gutted" after hearing of Maradona's comments.
Maradona said on Monday that the players were given an unspecified stimulant before the two-legged playoff to decide which team would qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the US.
"What happened is that to play against Australia we were given a speedy coffee.
"They put something in the coffee and that's why we ran more," Maradona told "The Football Show."
Maradona said Argentine Football Association President Julio Grondona knew about the doping. He said Argentina faced doping controls before every qualifier until the playoffs with Australia. "That's the cheat and Grondona knew about it," Maradona said.
Argentina drew the first match in Sydney 1-1 and won the return 1-0 to secure a berth in the 1994 tournament.
"We knew there wasn't going to be any anti-doping control a few days before, but we didn't attach any importance to it," Maradona's teammate and midfielder Hugo Perez said. "We just concentrated on playing, but what Diego said about there being no control is true."
Perez remembered the players could drink either water or coffee. Former defender Jose Chamot said it would be "illegal" to take illegal substances "even if there were no anti-doping control."
Another teammate of Maradona's said it was time for the mudslinging to stop.
"It's craziness that this has happened, it's all a political question," said Carlos Mac Allister. "They want to get rid of Grondona and they don't realize that they are involving and dirtying many people. History will tell who is who," Mac Allister added.
The feud between Maradona and Grondona first erupted when Grondona decided not to renew Maradona's contract as Argentina coach after the 2010 World Cup.
