Uruguayan police yesterday questioned the agent and entourage of Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona after a first analysis of a urine sample provided by him revealed traces of cocaine which police claimed had been taken in an excessive amount, leading to an overdose.

This latest brush with cocaine left him in an intensive care unit. Maradona, admitted initially for hypertension and irregular heartbeat problems, left the private Cantegril Hospital intensive care unit yesterday afternoon.

Maradona's agent Guillermo Coppola was questioned earlier in the day as part of a judicial investigation into the affair. "I am collaborating with the judicial authorities," said Coppola before holding some nine hours of talks with police and other officials.

Investigators also searched the home of Pablo Cosentino, agent of former Argentinian international Claudio Caniggia, who now plays for Atalanta in Italy.