In times where the issue of doping is very sensitive in the face of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the biography of Joseph Blatter exposed the attempt of former FIFA president, Joao Havelange, to hide Diego Maradona's doping in the 1994 World Cup in the United States in order to prevent the Argentine national team star from leaving the tournament, as revealed by journalist Keir Radnedge.

"I didn't drug myself, they cut off my legs," said Diego Maradona on June 30, 1994. Five days earlier, Argentina had defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the second match of the 1994 World Cup in the United States. In the meantime, it was discovered that his urine analysis had tested positive for ephedrine. The AFA withdrew the '10' from the competition at the request of FIFA, putting an end to his career with the Argentina national team.

According to information from this journalist, Joao Havelange spoke with the then president of AFA, Julio Grondona, to whom he "insisted that the case be dealt with after the World Cup". Diego Maradona tested positive for ephedrine, norefedrine, pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, and metaephedrine, five stimulant substances that help to lose weight.

According to Keir Radnedge, Joseph Blatter, who later became president of FIFA, was against postponing the decision because he was "not ready to be the silly secretary general" and "insisted on immediate action against Diego Maradona," he concluded.