Pele's son to remain in same prison

A request to transfer the son of Brazilian soccer star Pele to another prison was denied Thursday, forcing him to stay with the general population.

Edson Cholbi Nascimento, 35, was among 17 people arrested in a sting operation earlier this month in the Brazilian seaside city of Santos, a major drug-dealing point.

Police are also investigating a possible connection with a drug-running gang to last year's kidnapping of the mother of current Brazilian player Robinho.

It was not the first arrest for the son of the man many consider to be the greatest soccer player of all time. Nascimento was imprisoned in 1999 for his role in a drag race in which a motorcyclist was killed.

Nascimento, unlike his father, had limited success on the soccer field, retiring in 1999 after several unremarkable seasons as a backup goalie for a Brazilian team.

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