Surprising revelation in Maradona's trial: No drugs!

In a new development in the trial of the medical team responsible for caring for Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, forensic doctor Ezequiel Ventosi revealed that tests conducted on blood and urine samples from the deceased did not reveal any traces of drugs or alcohol at the time of his death on November 25, 2020. Ventosi, who analyzed the samples after Maradona's death, stated, "None of the four samples revealed the presence of substances such as cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine, or alcohol." He added that the tests revealed the presence of five pharmaceutical substances, including antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, and anti-nausea medications. Testifying during the hearings, forensic pathologist Silvana Di Piero confirmed that the examination of the organs showed clear signs of liver damage, as well as kidney and heart failure, reflecting the impact of chronic illnesses on Maradona's health. These testimonies come at the beginning of the fourth week of the trial of seven healthcare professionals, including doctors and psychologists, who are accused of "intentional homicide" due to medical negligence that led to Maradona's death. Testimonies indicate that the Argentine star's convalescence environment was medically unprepared, a significant factor in his tragic health condition. Alfredo Cahe, Maradona's former personal physician, who accompanied the Argentine star for 30 years until 2009, said, "Any doctor treating Maradona knew that the first thing to monitor was his heart," noting that the medical team was not closely monitoring his health. Maradona died of a complex heart and respiratory attack at a private home in the city of Tigre, near Buenos Aires, after undergoing surgery to treat a brain hematoma. Despite his health conditions, Cahe added, "with proper medical monitoring and control, his death could have been avoided." The trial is ongoing and is expected to last until July 2025. The seven practitioners face charges that could carry prison sentences of between 8 and 25 years.