By Anthony Foster, Trackalerts.Com Writer
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Professor Wayne McLaughlin, a Senior Lecturer, and currently the Head of Department for Basic Medical Sciences at UWI, testified on Tuesday at Asafa Powell’s hearing that Jamaican athletes are now using his lab to test supplements.
The 31-year-old Powell is facing the disciplinary panel following his positive test for the banned stimulant Oxilofrine at the national championships in June.
Prof. McLaughlin, responding to a question from Powell’s attorney Kwame Gordon about whether or not athletes used his Caribbean Toxicology Lab at UWI to test supplements, replied, “Only since Asafa’s case.”
Asked about how many tests his lab has carried out since then he responded, “I would say in the last month or so, about three athletes."
Last week Prof. McLaughlin told the panel in the Sherone Simpson’s case that it would cost in the region of US$1,000–US$1,500 for an athlete to test five supplements at Caribbean Toxicology.
McLaughlin, who was called to the witness stand because his lab carried two standard tests on the supplement Epipphany D1, similar to those used in the WADA-accredited laboratories. He told the panel that oxilofrine found in the product doesn't improve speed.
