Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell will realise what ban, if any, he is to serve for a failed drugs test last year. The 31-year-old former 100m world record holder, tested positive for banned stimulant oxilofrine in June 2013 and faces up to a two year ban. His legal team, on Wednesday, appealed for leniency for what is a first offence in a final submission made in Kingston. Powell's training partner Sherone Simpson, who failed a test at the same event, will receive her verdict on 8 April. Both Powell and Simpson, who were provisionally suspended in July, argued for the minimum suspension, on the grounds of minimal fault. Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson Both Tested for a Banned Stimulant Oxiflorine in June. The duo were among five Jamaicans to test positive at the Jamaican National Championships in June of last year. However, Jamaica's Anti-Doping Commission lawyer argued that they were negligent and had blindly trusted the physical trainer whom both blame for their positive tests. The trainer – Chris Xuereb – denies supplying a supplement known as Epiphany D1, which contains the banned substance. The court heard that Xuereb was also administering Powell's anti-inflammatory injections and Vitamin B12, despite not being certified as a doctor, massage therapist, chiropractor or physiotherapist during an earlier hearing in January- adjourned until this month after it overran. Powell set a world record of 9.74 seconds in 2007 and won gold in the men's 4 x 100m relay at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Comments