Powell's agent takes blame over suspected trainer

Kingston (Jamaica), July 16 (IANS/CMC) The agent for former men's 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell has conceded not doing enough background check on the physical trainer believed to have given the Jamaican sprinter tainted supplements.

Paul Doyle told Jamaican radio on Monday that he has accepted responsibility for hiring the trainer implicated.

His admission comes a day after the trainer was held and searched by Italian police.

According to Doyle, the highly recommended trainer came on board just ahead of the National Trials in June to help prepare Powell for the championships.

In an interview on Nationwide Radio, he says there was not enough time to for him to do the due diligence on the trainer.

Asafa and his teammate Sherone Simpson, who also tested positive for the banned substance, are among five Jamaicans who have returned adverse analytical findings.

Doyle says, as the agent who hired the trainer, he only became aware of the supplements when he got the invoices to pay for them.

--IANS/CMC

bs/dg