Jamaican sprinter Simpson abandons club

Florida, Oct 9 (IANS/CMC) Leading Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson has left her track and field club MVP in the wake of doping allegations levelled against her.

The three-time Olympian has signed up with the IMG Academy here where she has already begun training. Simpson, along with former training partner Asafa Powell, tested positive for banned substances at the Jamaica trials in June which led to a fallout with former coach Stephen Francis.

"Yes, she is now training with Loren Seagrave at the IMG Academy in Florida," MVP manager Paul Doyle, who has managed Simpson all her career, said Tuesday.

Both Simpson and Powell started their careers with Francis at MVP but the coach was recently quoted as saying he would not take back the athletes unless they parted company with Doyle.

Simpson, the 2008 Olympic Games 100m silver medallist, and Powell will face Jamaica's Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel in January.

--IANS/CMC

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