Powell's doping hearing adjourned until February

Powell's doping hearing adjourned until February

Asafa Powell's manager told a Jamaican anti-doping hearing Wednesday that the man they hired to treat the former world 100-metre champ was not a certified physical therapist.

Jamaica's Asafa Powell breathes after crossing the finish line in the men's 100m final at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 5, 2012 in London

Powell, 31, tested positive at the Jamaican national championships in June for the banned stimulant oxilofrine.

The sprinter is blaming Chris Xuereb, saying the newly-hired physical therapist gave him the nutritional supplements that resulted in the positive test.

Powell told the three-member Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) panel on Tuesday that he did not list all the supplements he was taking on his declaration form before the event because he was too excited and couldn't remember their names.

The hearing was adjourned until February 12, when the panel expects to hear more witnesses over two days.

Speaking on the second day of the hearing, Powell's manager Paul Doyle said they hired Xuereb because the Canadian was highly recommended by a chiropractor, Carmine Stillo. Doyle did not do any background checks on Xuereb.

Under cross-examination from JADCO lawyer Lackston Robinson, Doyle said that although Xuereb was not certified, he still qualified as a physiotherapist.

Doyle told the panel that he had wanted a physiotherapist on a short notice to work full-time with Powell.

Doyle said he did not know if Xuereb was a qualified therapist.

Powell's training partner Sherone Simpson also tested positive for the same stimulant.

Xuereb denies giving Powell supplements that led to the positive test and said earlier that he and Simpson are "looking for a scapegoat."

Powell, one of Jamaica's greatest sprinters of all time, set a world record in the 100 metres in 2008 with a time of 9.74 seconds.

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