DAEGU – Asafa Powell withdrew yesterday from the men’s 100 metres at the World Championships in South Korea.
Powell’s agent Paul Doyle said the Jamaican sprinter has failed to recover from a niggling groin injury.
“He’s still suffering groin pains from the Budapest meet (in July),” Doyle said.
“He pulled out of the London (Diamond League) meet (from August 5 to 6) and has not recovered sufficiently to take part in the 100.”
Powell is hoping to recover in time for the 4×100 relay on the final day, September 4.
The 100 preliminaries begin on the opening day of the championships today, with the final to be contested on Sunday.
Powell’s withdrawal further devalues the event, following the pull-outs of American Tyson Gay, with a groin injury, and Jamaican Steve Mullings for a positive drugs test.
Powell ran the season’s fastest 100 of 9.78 seconds at the IAAF Diamond League in early July in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a duel with compatriot Usain Bolt was set to be one of the highlights of the championships.
“We expected him to run in Daegu, but it was too short a time,” Doyle said. “We took the decision [on Thursday]. He is upset, but he knows there is nothing he can do.
“He’s got to now concentrate on next year and the Olympics. It’s just bad luck, nothing else. At those speeds, you ask a lot of your body.”
Bolt, the defending World 100 champion, along with Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter and Frater, will now represent Jamaica in the dash. (CMC)
