"Maradona remains under treatment with sedatives, ... and support medications. There have been new routine tests, which have shown acceptable results," Hector Pezzella, the medical chief at Guemes Hospital, told reporters.

Pezzella said that while Maradona, 46, was "fully into a period of recovery," he was drowsy given the sedatives he has been receiving "to avoid withdrawal symptoms."

"He is stable and is progressing very well ... he did wake up and he ate breakfast," Pezzella added, noting that eating on his own was a sign of progress.

Maradona awakened twice early Friday and is aware he is in hospital, the doctor said, noting "he was at no point aggressive."

The ex footballer's personal physician Alfredo Cahe earlier had said Maradona was admitted against his will and had to be sedated.

Pezzella said Maradona was expected to be treated in hospital until some time next week as in cases of alcoholic detoxification a patient is released five to seven days after being admitted for inpatient treatment.

Should Maradona decide to leave before then, Pezzella said, doctors would allow him because "his life is not in danger."

The football icon has a psychiatric nurse as well as a clinical nurse constantly on duty. And his daughters Dalma and Giannina, and a few close friends were staying in a room alongside Maradona's.

Cahe also has said Maradona has been depressed in recent weeks.

While both Pezzella and Cahe have denied Maradona's treatment was related to use of any illegal drugs, they said it was likely he had replaced a dependency on cocaine with alcohol.