Asafa Powell’s trainer yesterday insisted he is not to blame for the Jamaican sprinter’s positive drugs test and claims he is being made a scapegoat.

Chris Xuereb, a Canadian, has had the finger of blame pointed at him by Powell’s agent Paul Doyle on Tuesday after the sprinter and three-times Olympic medallist Sherone Simpson both tested positive for the same banned stimulant oxilofrine.

Xuereb, who only began working with the sprinters in May, said in a statement: “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.

“I am disappointed that these athletes have chosen to blame me for their own violations.”

He added: “I did not provide any banned or illegal substances to Asafa Powell or Sherone Simpson. While I did recommend vitamins, all vitamins recommen-ded by me were all purchased over the counter at reputable nutritional stores and were major brands.

“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.”

Xuereb pointed out that three other Jamaican athletes also tested positive at the same event where Powell and Simpson provided the samples, and that he had had no contact with the other three.

Prosecutors in Italy this week launched a criminal investigation into Powell, Simpson and Xuereb, who were at a training base in Lignano.

Authorities are investigating whether the trio have violated the law on doping.

School system

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission will step up its education and testing programmes following the doping scandal, the country’s Prime Minister said.

Portia Simpson-Miller, who is also the country’s Minister for Sports, added the country’s anti-doping body had uncovered 15 positive tests from 860 samples in the past four years.

“We intend to ramp up the public education programme in our schools,” Simpson-Miller said.

“We need to initiate a system for high school level testing for athletes involved in training and competition in sport, in accordance with appropriate appro-vals from the parents and guardians of these youngsters.”