DIEGO Maradona travelled to Switzerland yesterday to begin a drugs cure at a private clinic on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The 35 year old former Argentina soccer captain, twice suspended for using drugs, looked tired but relaxed on arrival at Geneva airport. He greeted bystanders, picked up children and joked with a group of reporters.

But he refused to answer any questions about the reasons for his visit or about his drugs problem he was whisked through customs into a waiting car.

Swiss television reported that Maradona was heading to the La Prairie Clinic, located at Clarens sur Montreux overlooking Lake Geneva, for detoxification treatment.

The clinic itself refused to comment on the report, with a spokesman saying. "We never divulge either the identity of our patients nor their treatment."

A day after abruptly ending his stint with local side Boca Juniors, Maradona said in Buenos Aires yesterday that he wanted to kick his drug habit for the sake of his daughters.

"I'm told there's an 80 per cent chance they will cure my addiction. I'll make up for the rest with grit and courage," he told local television.

"The Swiss clinic was recommended to me by a friend and I'm going because in Argentina many doctors instead of treating you and curing you just take your money," he added.

"Besides, there is no knowledge about drugs here and many people have no idea how hard it is to get over a bout of depression and an addiction."