Prosecutors in Italy have launched a criminal investigation into Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson and their Canadian trainer Christopher Xuereb.

Powell and Simpson have both tested positive for a banned stimulant and police raided their hotel in Lignano and removed substances for analysis.

The Fra i Pini hotel, where the sprinters trained, said the athletes had left their rooms.

Paul Doyle, Powell’s agent, confirmed this week that Xuereb had started working with the athlete on May 8, just before the Jamaican championships, for a one-week trial period having been highly recommended by a Canadian physiotherapist.

Doyle said Xuereb’s contract was then extended until the end of the season and that the Canadian’s primary role in camp was to “treat Asafa and keep him healthy”.

Authorities in Udine are now investigating whether Powell, Simp-son and Xuereb have violated the law on doping. Italy is one of a few countries in the world that can impose criminal sanctions for doping offences on top of standard sporting sanctions.

Police confirmed they have seized some 50 boxes of tablets, ampoules, sprays and ointments.

Powell, 30, who has run the 100 metres in 9.88 seconds this year but failed to make the Jamaican team for next month’s World Champion-ships, was tested at the trials in June and returned an adverse finding for oxilofrine.

Simpson, 28, tested positive for the same substance.