FloEuro Adventures 2013Jul 17, 2013 by FloTrack Staff
Asafa Powell's Trainer Claims His Innocence
Asafa Powell's Trainer Claims His Innocence
On July 16th at 10:41pm CT, Flotrack received a forwarded email from an anonymous source pertaining the recent positive tests of Jamaicans Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson. The source claimed the email was from Christopher Xuereb, who served as both Powell and Simpson’s trainer. Flotrack held off from releasing the email until we could confirm the authenticity of the statement attached below.
According to The Associated Press, police in Lignano, Italy recently stopped and questioned the trainer as part of their investigation with what’s rumored to be the next big drug scandal.
Agent Paul Doyle, who represents both Powell and Simpson, has accused Xuereb as the culprit for the recent positive tests. On Tuesday, Doyle told The Associated Press, “Asafa and Sherone have been tested more than 100 times each through their career... and never turned in a positive test. Now they change their supplements and the first time they get tested, they have a positive test? It has to be something in those new supplements that has caused it. Chris is the one that provided those.”
In a statement via email, however, Xuereb claims his innocence. The email is below:
I was hired by Asafa Powell and his agent, Paul Doyle, and began working in May, 2013. My primary responsibilities were to provide soft tissue massage therapy as well as nutritional help to manage the general health of these athletes. These athletes were suffering from chronic injuries they had before I started working with them. I worked extremely hard to help Asafa Powell and Sheron Simpson with their injuries.
Most importantly, I did not provide any banned or illegal substances to Asafa Powell or Sherone Simpson. While I did recommend vitamins, all vitamins recommended by me were all purchased over the counter at reputable Nutritional stores and were major brands; Metagenics, SISU, AOR, Epiphany. I was instructed by the agent and athletes to buy these vitamins. All vitamins recommended by me were shown to the MVP club coach Stephen Francis. He has gone on record and confirmed the vitamins recommended by me did not contain any performance enhancing substance and were not what was found in Asafa and Sherone's positive drug testing findings.
Further all vitamins provided by me were found to be legal by the Italian Police. I do not know what these athletes were taking in addition to what I suggested to them.Although I suggested certain vitamins to these athletes it is ultimately the athlete's responsibility to accept or reject my suggestion.
These athletes did not inform me that they were taking any additional supplementation other than what I recommended and it is obvious that these athletes were taking additional supplements that were not discussed or known to me. I was informed by the italian Police that other supplements were found in these athletes' possession. I cooperated fully with the Italian Police and provided answers to all their questions. I was not arrested or detained as alleged. I was simply questioned for several hours (as were Asafa and Sherone) and free to leave.
Unfortunately it appears that these athletes were not solely following my suggestions or WADA's guidelines. These guidelines are in place so all athletes can have a clean sport. Both athletes are clearly looking for a scapegoat. I am confident, and I have also spoken to researchers and the Police, that I have done nothing wrong.
It is very difficult at this time to assist some athletes without risk of being made the scapegoat in these situations.We need to remember that in addition to Asafa and Sherone, three other Jamaican athletes tested positive at the 2013 Jamaican trials. I had no contact with these athletes nor do I know them. It is time the athletes took responsibility for their doping instead of looking around for a scapegoat whether that person is their therapist, bartender or anyone else. Athletes keep using the same story which is to blame the scapegoat for their own wrong doing.
I am extremely disappointed that these athletes have chosen to blame me for their own violations. WADA and the public needs to stop accepting these stories and hold these athletes accountable.
Flotrack contributor Chris Chavez outside the hotel in Lignano, where Xuereb was questioned and Powell's room was raided.
Doyle added in his statement, “We’re not trying to throw Chris under the bus and blame him for anything. We know it has to be something in the supplements he gave them. We’re not saying he did anything deliberate, but it’s in those supplements. We need to figure out what it was that caused this and from there move forward.”
Flotrack is currently reaching out to different sources on the issue. If you have any information, please email us.
According to The Associated Press, police in Lignano, Italy recently stopped and questioned the trainer as part of their investigation with what’s rumored to be the next big drug scandal.
Agent Paul Doyle, who represents both Powell and Simpson, has accused Xuereb as the culprit for the recent positive tests. On Tuesday, Doyle told The Associated Press, “Asafa and Sherone have been tested more than 100 times each through their career... and never turned in a positive test. Now they change their supplements and the first time they get tested, they have a positive test? It has to be something in those new supplements that has caused it. Chris is the one that provided those.”
In a statement via email, however, Xuereb claims his innocence. The email is below:
I was hired by Asafa Powell and his agent, Paul Doyle, and began working in May, 2013. My primary responsibilities were to provide soft tissue massage therapy as well as nutritional help to manage the general health of these athletes. These athletes were suffering from chronic injuries they had before I started working with them. I worked extremely hard to help Asafa Powell and Sheron Simpson with their injuries.
Most importantly, I did not provide any banned or illegal substances to Asafa Powell or Sherone Simpson. While I did recommend vitamins, all vitamins recommended by me were all purchased over the counter at reputable Nutritional stores and were major brands; Metagenics, SISU, AOR, Epiphany. I was instructed by the agent and athletes to buy these vitamins. All vitamins recommended by me were shown to the MVP club coach Stephen Francis. He has gone on record and confirmed the vitamins recommended by me did not contain any performance enhancing substance and were not what was found in Asafa and Sherone's positive drug testing findings.
Further all vitamins provided by me were found to be legal by the Italian Police. I do not know what these athletes were taking in addition to what I suggested to them.Although I suggested certain vitamins to these athletes it is ultimately the athlete's responsibility to accept or reject my suggestion.
These athletes did not inform me that they were taking any additional supplementation other than what I recommended and it is obvious that these athletes were taking additional supplements that were not discussed or known to me. I was informed by the italian Police that other supplements were found in these athletes' possession. I cooperated fully with the Italian Police and provided answers to all their questions. I was not arrested or detained as alleged. I was simply questioned for several hours (as were Asafa and Sherone) and free to leave.
Unfortunately it appears that these athletes were not solely following my suggestions or WADA's guidelines. These guidelines are in place so all athletes can have a clean sport. Both athletes are clearly looking for a scapegoat. I am confident, and I have also spoken to researchers and the Police, that I have done nothing wrong.
It is very difficult at this time to assist some athletes without risk of being made the scapegoat in these situations.We need to remember that in addition to Asafa and Sherone, three other Jamaican athletes tested positive at the 2013 Jamaican trials. I had no contact with these athletes nor do I know them. It is time the athletes took responsibility for their doping instead of looking around for a scapegoat whether that person is their therapist, bartender or anyone else. Athletes keep using the same story which is to blame the scapegoat for their own wrong doing.
I am extremely disappointed that these athletes have chosen to blame me for their own violations. WADA and the public needs to stop accepting these stories and hold these athletes accountable.
Flotrack contributor Chris Chavez outside the hotel in Lignano, where Xuereb was questioned and Powell's room was raided.
Doyle added in his statement, “We’re not trying to throw Chris under the bus and blame him for anything. We know it has to be something in the supplements he gave them. We’re not saying he did anything deliberate, but it’s in those supplements. We need to figure out what it was that caused this and from there move forward.”
Flotrack is currently reaching out to different sources on the issue. If you have any information, please email us.
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