Marshall

XAVIER MARSHALL'S alleged positive drug test will not stop the batsman from representing Jamaica in the upcoming regional one-day tournament.

It has been reported that Marshall and Tonito Willett from Leeward Islands tested positive last month at a camp to pick the Stanford SuperStar team to face England in the Stanford Twenty20 winner-take-all $20 million match on November 1.

However, president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Jackie Hendriks, yesterday confirmed Marshall was eligible for selection to the national team.

"He will be available for selection," said Hendriks, who will demit office as president in late October. "As far I know, there is nothing official, either to the Jamaica Cricket Association or myself."

Donald Peters, chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), confirmed the positive tests last week and said action would be taken after advice from the board's attorneys.

"They (the attorneys) are looking into the matter and will advise us on the course of action," Peters said. "The WICB has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and the matter could come up to the disciplinary committee. We are looking at a time frame of two weeks," said Peters, who noted Marshall was among the contracted West Indies players.

However, despite the revelation, Hendriks said: "We have heard nothing about anything. We have only read it in the newspapers, we have read it online, but as far as it goes, nothing official has come to us."

However, Hendriks did note that, "We (at JCA) have taken the initiative to call him (Marshall) and have a chat with him to find out whether, in fact, there is anything to it."

Hendriks did not say if Marshall had confirmed or accepted the findings.

"We are certainly moving to ensure that these sort of things are things of the past. We are certainly trying to help in every way we can," said Hendriks.