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Football

Fadiga will carry on Bolton career


story.fadiga.jpg
Fadiga was released by Inter Milan after his condition was diagnosed

LONDON, England -- Senegal international Khalilou Fadiga is to defy a heart specialist's advice and resume his career with English club Bolton.

Although Professor Marcello Chimienti, who diagnosed Fadiga's heart condition, has warned the 29-year-old one fall or kick could kill him in an instant, the player has decided to resume training.

Fadiga has had an automatic defibrillator implanted in his chest after collapsing during the warm-up before a League Cup match against Tottenham in October.

The midfielder had been attempting to make a comeback from surgery to correct an abnormal heartbeat.

"The player made the decision, supported by his wife Jill, to do everything possible to overcome this problem and return to playing," Bolton said in a statement.

Fadiga will stay under the care of a cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon.

"Considering all the medical details of the case, Khalilou is now medically fit to play professional football and the player has decided to resume training with a view to playing first team football again," the statement added.

"We have taken several opinions, and will support the player's decision and monitor his health very closely."

Chimienti, who discovered Fadiga's condition in July 2003 while the player was at Inter Milan, disagreed with Bolton's prognosis.

"Fadiga should live his life quietly and give up playing football," Chimienti said. "It is dangerous for him to want to continue playing while wearing a defibrillator.

"It is a device which can stop just as easily as it can work. The machine is so delicate if it gets hit by a ball during a match, or if the player falls on to his shoulder or takes a kick from an opponent, it will stop functioning -- and this will lead to his instant death.

"He should not be allowed to play football and even having another operation will not alter his problem one bit."

Fadiga was signed by Bolton in September after being released from his contract with Inter Milan.

Fadiga joined the Serie A club from French side Auxerre last year but was sidelined for six months after doctors said his heart complaint put his life at risk.

Cameroon's Marc-Vivien Foe died of a heart attack during a Confederations Cup match in 2003.


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