Organisers happy with 12th staging of Wesley Powell meet

THE 12th Staging of the Wesley Powell/Heart Institute of the Caribbean Invitational Track and Field Meet, which took place at Excelsior High School last Saturday, was deemed a huge success by organisers.

The meet saw over 1,700 athletes representing 53 teams, participating in 40 track events and 29 field events in various age groups for schools, colleges, clubs and unattached individuals.

There were approximately 100 officials and 40 volunteers, thus providing good entertainment for hundreds of spectators, including Racers Track Club head coach Glen Mills, who gave the proceedings high marks for its organisation and quality.

Also in attendance were two prominent Excelsior High past students in Ruby Harrold-Claesson from Sweden and Donna Myrie from New Jersey, USA.

The highlight of the meet, from a spectator’s perspective, was the running of the 150-metre races simultaneously from different ends of the track. This was possible as the organisers employed two finish lines, two automatic timing systems, and two sets of starters. Before one race was completed another was on its way and this enabled the meet to be completed on time.

The meet honoured three persons in Frank Brown, former national football captain and many-time winning coach of Excelsior’s Manning Cup and softball teams;Vinton Powell, former national track and field representative and current JAAA starter; and Lorna Vernon, national junior track and field coach and coach at Convent of Mercy Alpha.

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Organisers happy with 12th staging of Wesley Powell meet

Powell misses out again as Thomas leads Hurricanes in Super50

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Rising West Indies star Kieran Powell is set to also miss out on the NAGICO Super50.

The 24-year-old left-hander was once again a glaring omission from the Leeward Hurricanes 14-man squad announced this week to contest the January 15-24 championship in Trinidad and Tobago.

Powell, who has played 21 Tests for West Indies and viewed widely as one for the future, has yet to also feature in the WICB Professional Cricket League. He was one of the 10 retained players for the Leeward Islands.

Attempts by CMC Sports to reach Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) chief executive, Derrick Nicholas, on the matter, proved futile.

Powell led the Leewards in last season’s Super50 when the side failed to reach the final four, and was also at the helm for the four-day season.

He last played competitive cricket in the first Test against New Zealand last June.

Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, meanwhile, has been retained as captain for the upcoming tournament in a side that includes seasoned campaigners like batsman Steve Liburd, fast bowler Gavin Tonge and leg-spinner Anthony Martin.

Eighteen-year-old all-rounder Jeremiah Louis, who made his first-class debut two months ago, has been included.

According to a release from LICA, the Leewards will play several warm-up games here in St Kitts before leaving for Trinidad on January 14.

SQUAD – Devon Thomas (captain), Shane Burton, Jason Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Shane Jeffers, Steve Liburd, Jeremiah Louis, Anthony Martin, Orlando Peters, Austin Richards, Lyndell Richardson, Gavin Tonge.

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Powell misses out again as Thomas leads Hurricanes in Super50

Edwards, Powell to lead Windies A squads to India

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced A-team squads to tour India next month for “Tests”, One-Day and T20 matches.

Kirk Edwards will lead the side in the three “Tests” against India-A, and Kieran Powell will captain the side in the three One-Day and one Twenty20 that precede the “Tests”, said a WICB statement released Monday.Edwards will be leading the side again, following a home series against Sri Lanka-A in June this year, when West Indies-A drew a two “Test” series before clinching a three-match One-Day series 2-1, and a two-match T20 series 1-0.“It’s a great honour to captain the West Indies at any level, and I’m looking forward to the trip to India,” he said.“In addition to the honour there is great responsibility and, as one of the most experienced members of the squad, I know I will have a very important leadership role to perform on and off the field.”Powell is seeking to regain his place in the senior West Indies side after injury forced him to miss the ICC Champions Trophy, Celkon Mobile Cup Series, and home series against Pakistan before making his return in the just-ended Caribbean Premier League.“This upcoming tour of India will be a challenging one, but as players we know it is a great opportunity to represent the West Indies and look to do well on the international stage,” said the left-handed opener.“I played in India before and it’s a great place for cricket with the crowds, the atmosphere and the level of competition. We anticipate a good, competitive series. I’m eager and confident as we prepare for the tour and I know all the other players are as well.”West Indies-A – led by Veerasammy Permaul – prevailed over India-A in a home series in June last year, when they won a three “Test” series 2-1 and followed up with 1-1 drawn series in the One-Day and T20 formats.“Test” squad — Kirk Edwards (captain), Kieran Powell (vice-captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Jahmar Hamilton, Delorn Johnson, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Veerasammy Permaul, Shane Shillingford, Chadwick Walton.One-day & Twenty20 squad — Kieran Powell (captain), Veerasammy Permaul (vice-captain), Ronsford Beaton, Nkrumah Bonner, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Andre Russell, Devon Thomas.POWELL… is seeking to regain his place in the senior West Indies side after injury forced him to miss the ICC Champions TrophyEDWARDS… will be leading the side again, following a home series against Sri Lanka-A in June this year

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Edwards, Powell to lead Windies A squads to India

Powell, Simpson request testing of "B" samples

Sport

Paul ReidWednesday, July 24, 2013

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, two of five athletes who returned adverse analytical findings in their ‘A’ samples last month, have requested that their ‘B’ samples be tested.They have also retained counsel. A release sent out Monday from Bruce James, president of MVP Track Club where both athletes are members, confirmed the request for the ‘B’ samples to be tested.It was announced last week that Powell, who returned home last week from the Lignano, Italy, training base of MVP, had retained a team of lawyers to act on his behalf.Powell and Simpson returned positive tests for a stimulant oxilofrine (methylsynephrine), while discus throwers Allison Randall and Traves Smikle, as well as a junior athlete all returned positive tests for Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, all coming in June.Meanwhile, Monday’s release said the 14-year-old club was fully behind the two sprinters. “Whilst the Adverse Analytical Findings are unfortunate and disappointing, the club continues to stand by and support Sherone and Asafa during this time, and we will be following the developments in this matter closely and will endeavour to support and protect the rights of these two great athletes, so as to ensure a fair hearing for them, and a just resolution of the issues involved.”

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Powell, Simpson request testing of "B" samples

MVP denies Powell, Simpson under police probe

News

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer Wednesday, July 17, 2013

MONTEGO BAY, St James — President of MVP Track Club Bruce James last night described as “totally untrue” a report in the international media that two of their athletes — Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson — were under investigations in Italy for breaches of the country’s drug codes.James said any investigations that are going on “must be secret as we have not being told anything”.Multiple reports quoted sources in Italy as saying that both athletes, along with trainer Chris Xuereb, were under investigations after police took “50 boxes of tablets, sprays and ointments, some unlabelled” from the hotel where they are staying.“At the instigation of Paul Doyle, agent for Powell, Italian police on Sunday raided the hotel where the MVP athlete were staying and detained Xuereb for questioning for about seven hours before he was released.Doyle told the Jamaica Observer on Monday that they had called in the authorities after they were notified on Friday that Powell — the former World Record holder — and Olympic silver medalist Simpson had failed drug tests at the JAAA National Championships in June.He said the positive tests raised red flags as “both Asafa and Sherone had been tested over 100 times each in their careers and have never failed a test, and soon after we hired a new trainer and he gave them new supplements, we get these results and we just wanted to make sure we checked out everything.”In an interview with the Observer from Florida, James said he was in constant contact with the MVP camp in Lignano, Italy, which categorically denied the reports.“… First of all, the athletes have not been contacted by any police or anyone official since the first contact on Sunday and they have been moving around Europe freely.”James said they had athletes all over Europe taking part at various meets and no one had attempted to restrict any of them, including Powell and Simpson who had discontinued training.Former world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic medallist Sherone Simpson (right) have returned positive drug tests for banned substances.President of MVP Track Club Bruce James

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MVP denies Powell, Simpson under police probe

Tale of two sponsors: LIME reserves comment on Powell...

TELECOMMUNICATION giant LIME yesterday refused to comment on its embattled brand ambassador, Asafa Powell.

Powell failed a drug test at the JAAA National Senior Championships after his sample returned traces of the banned substance oxilofrine (methylsynephrine), following his 100m finals on June 21 at the National Stadium.LIME has sponsored the athlete since 2005.“LIME reserves comment and awaits the outcome of investigations,” the company said in statement issued to the Business Observer.Powell, 30, had never before failed a drug test. It is hoped that his “B” sample will be tested by next week.LIME’s reaction is far different from the way Adidas handled news on Sunday of its star sprinter Tyson Gay returning a positive doping test. The following day, the sportswear giant suspended its sponsorship of Gay.“We are shocked by these recent allegations, and even if we presume his innocence until proved otherwise, our contract with Tyson is currently suspended,” Adidas said in a statement.The 30-year-old Gay, the American record-holder in the 100m, has been backed by Adidas since 2005.“During this time he has been a great ambassador for the sport of track and field and our brand,” Adidas, which is based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, said.The shoe and sports clothing maker is invoking the clause in Gay’s contract relating to doping.“Adidas has a clear policy on doping and drug use,” the company said. “Each of the agreements with our athletes include a clear clause which states that the agreement shall be terminated by Adidas if the athlete is found guilty of the possession or use of drugs or any other prohibited substance by the relevant governing sports body having jurisdiction over the athlete.”Gay, who won the 100 and 200m at US national championships last month, has said he will have his “B” sample tested soon, possibly as early as this week.Gay has pulled out of next month’s world championships in Moscow. He reportedly fought back tears as he spoke about his positive result on Sunday.“I don’t have a sabotage story. I don’t have any lies. I don’t have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake or it was on USADA’s hands, someone playing games,” said Gay. “I don’t have any of those stories. I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down.”Powell did not qualify individually for the championships, but it was hoped that he would be a part of Jamaica’s sprint relay team. The man who has run nearly 90 sub-10-second races, more than any other human being, said his “attitude towards doping regulations and testing is well known, and I willingly give samples whenever requested”. The results has left him “completely devastated”, he said.Powell was among five Jamaicans who, it was announced, had failed doping tests after the National Trials.Additional reporting by The Associated Press(L-R) Powell… brand ambassador for LIME since 2005. Gay… brand ambassador for Adidas since 2005

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Tale of two sponsors: LIME reserves comment on Powell...

Powell, Simpson not under investigation

Sport

PAUL A REID Observer WriterTuesday, July 16, 2013 | 4:03 PM

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Media reports that former world record holder Asafa Powell and his MVP teammate Sherone Simpson were under investigations by Italian police for breaches of the country’s anti-doping laws were today strongly denied by handlers of the athletes.When contacted by the Jamaica Observer, Tara Playfair-Scott Powell’s publicist appeared surprised by the news.“Under investigations for what,” she responded.Playfair-Scott told the Observer that she spoke to the sprinter (Powell) earlier today and he had no contact with the Italian police since Sunday.In response to a failed drug tests by Powell and Simpson, both of who are his clients, Paul Doyle had contacted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and initiated a raid on the room of Chris Xuereb the trainer he had hired to work with Powell.Xuereb was on Sunday detained briefly by police but was subsequently released and according to Doyle has since left the Italian town.Both Powell and Simpson failed drug tests at the JAAA National Senior Championships after their samples returned traces of the banned ‘oxilofrine’ (methylsynephrine) following the respective 100m finals on June 21 at the National Stadium.The athlete’s representatives also shot down reports yesterday that police had raided the rooms occupied by the athletes at the Lignano, Italy base MVP has used for years.

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Powell, Simpson not under investigation

17-y-o Philesha Powell of Lincoln, Manchester missing

News

Monday, July 08, 2013 | 4:14 PM

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — An Ananda Alert has been activated for 17-year-old Philesha Powell, otherwise called ‘Phil’ of Lincoln district, Manchester, She has been missing since Sunday, July 7.Philesha is of brown complexion, slim build and about 5-feet-3-inches tall.The Mandeville Police report that Philesha was last seen at home about 6:00 pm. Her mode of dress at the time she went missing is unknown.Anyone knowing Philesha’s whereabouts is being asked to contact the Mandeville Police at 961-5538-5, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. No photograph of Philesha was available at the time of this publication.
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17-y-o Philesha Powell of Lincoln, Manchester missing