Vialli denies drug use at Juventus

Chelsea's former manager Gianluca Vialli has robustly denied having knowingly taken performance-enhancing drugs administered by the former Juventus doctor Riccardo Agricola.

Agricola was given a suspended 22-month jail sentence by the judge Giuseppe Casalbore, who, while absolving the club of blame, questioned the testimonies of several players, including the former Italy striker Vialli. Agricola was found guilty of giving the Juve players substances, including the blood-booster erythropoietin, between 1994-98, a spell in which the Turin giants won three Serie A titles, one Italian Cup, the Champions' League and the European Super Cup.

Vialli, a key player for the Bianconeri at the time, said: "I certainly deny the accusations that I knowingly took illegal substances. I have not only been an athlete and a footballer but I am also a husband, a father and a friend. I have responsibilities for my family.

"To think that any of us [Juventus players] would have wanted to put their own health at risk by taking illegal substances, it's absurd."

Vialli is annoyed that Casalbore has cast doubt over Juve's success. Gianfranco Zola, who played for a Parma side which finished second to Juve in the race for the scudetto at this time, has said that the Turin club should give back the trophies they won in the period of doping.

The Lecce coach, Zdenek Zeman, whose comments about doping in football several years ago in a magazine interview led to the investigation at Juve, also says they should not keep the silverware.

But Vialli said: "In those years, I had a starring role and I am firmly convinced that those victories were exclusively the result of our sweat, sacrifice, ability, determination, incredible hunger and a great team spirit. As well as some luck that always accompanies winning teams.

"The comments regarding the credibility of our success with the Bianconeri are very serious and difficult to accept. What helps me overcome the sadness is my strong belief of not having ever lied to anyone."

In Bogota, Colombia, Diego Maradona left a clinic yesterday, four days after he underwent a stomach operation to help trim his ballooning waistline. Maradona, 44, is expected to recover in the seaside resort of Cartagena with his sister, Rita, for about three weeks.

"Diego is in splendid condition," Francisco Holguin said. "The post-operative process is going very well and we will be checking on him every day."

Maradona will be kept on a diet of liquid foods for about 15 days. The former World Cup winner became obese in recent years as he struggled to overcome cocaine addiction at a clinic in Cuba. His personal doctor, Alfredo Cahe, said Maradona was ready to open a new chapter in his life.

"He has great hopes to start a new life," Cahe said. "He really wants to erase the past."

The operation, called a gastric bypass, aims to reduce his weight by 110lb within a year. Before the operation, the 5ft 6in Argentinian weighed 19st (120kg).

Costa Rica have been fined and ordered to host their next World Cup qualifier behind closed doors after fans rioted following their defeat to Mexico last month. Football's world governing body, Fifa, fined Costa Rica 20,000 Swiss francs [£8,950] and ordered them to play Panama in the Concacaf qualifiers behind closed doors at the Saprissa stadium in San Jose on 26 March.

Costa Rica fans threw objects including coins and batteries on to the pitch after Mexico won 2-1 on 9 February. A statement from the Costa Rican federation said they would appeal against the verdict.

Mexico and the United States lead the six-nation Concacaf World Cup qualifying group with three points each after the first round of matches.