The Gleaner has reported this morning that Asafa Powell will not face Tyson Gay in a 100m clash in London today as planned after the Jamaican chose to pull out of the two-day London Diamond League meet in order to rest his injured groin ahead of the Olympic Games.
Forced to withdraw from the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, last year, and having to jet off to Miami for treatment in the middle of the Jamaican Olympic trials late last month, Powell has had a lengthy and well-documented problem with his groin and is still feeling pain in the area after his most recent flare-up.
Agent Paul Doyle confirmed the decision, but sought to give the assurance that the former world 100m record holder would be ready by the time the athletics competition starts at the Olympic Games. Powell's first involvement at the Olympic Games will come on August 4 in the 100m heats.
"He's not going to run," said Doyle in reference to Powell's involvement at the London Diamond League. "We decided not to run because there's still a bit of pain in the groin, so he doesn't want to risk anything before the Olympics. He'll be fine for the Olympics, but we decided not to race this week."
Powell was expected to face the now-recovered Gay in a test of both athletes' readiness ahead of the July 27-August 12 showpiece. Gay seems fitter by the week after recovering from a hip surgery in 2011, while Powell's health progress remains a point of concern following his latest setback - the powerful Jamaican having to be lifted off the track after finishing third behind Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell in the 100m final in Kingston.
SHOULD BE READY
Doyle, however, said that his client would be ready in time for the games and that this latest step was simply a precautionary one.
"We've just been treating his groin so it heals. He feels fine now, but we've decided to take some more rest, then train, so he'll be ready for the Olympics," said Doyle.
Powell is the second high-profile Jamaican to pull out of a meet heading to the Olympic Games after Usain Bolt withdrew from the Monaco Diamond League, which runs off on July 20.
Despite Powell's absence, the meet will hold significant interest for Jamaican fans with several of the island's Olympic-bound athletes down to face the starter.
Nesta Carter, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Lerone Clarke, Jacques Harvey, and Michael Frater will carry the Jamaican flag in the 100m with Gay and training partner Keston Bledman carrying the biggest threats.
Melaine Walker - the defending Olympic champion - Kaliese Spencer, and Nickeisha Wilson will be looking to dominate a 400m hurdles field that includes Russian Irina Davydova, who is one of three women to have gone below 54 seconds (53.77), which is the second-fastest time this year.
Sherone Simpson, Anneisha McLaughlin, and Aleen Bailey will run the 200m against American Bianca Knight, while national champion Kimberly Williams will look to continue her rise in the triple jump.
Tomorrow, double national champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Carrie Russell, and Aleen Bailey will contest the 100m against the troublesome Murielle Ahoure and Knight in the first heat. Schillonie Calvert will face world champion Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison in the other 100m heat. Latoya Greaves and Brigitte Foster-Hylton are entered in the 100m hurdles with Mario Forsythe and Marvin Anderson expected to start in the 200m.
Selected Events
12:22 p.m: Women's 400m Hurdles
12:34 p.m: Men's 400m Hurdles
12:44 p.m: Men's 100m Heat 1
12:54 p.m: Men's 100m Heat 2
1:04 p.m: Women's 200m
1:14 p.m: Women's 5000m
1:36 p. m: Women's 1500m
1:48 p.m: Men's 110m Hurdles
1:59 p. m: Men's 100m
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