25 August 2011 / REUTERS/AP, DAEGU
Jamaica’s Asafa Powell has been ruled out of the 100 meters at the World Athletics Championships, a teammate said on Thursday.
Michael Frater told reporters he was replacing the sprinter in the blue riband race, but Jamaican team officials refused to confirm the news. “I didn’t come here expecting to run the 100 meters but unfortunately Asafa couldn’t make it,” Frater said. Earlier this month Powell withdrew from a race at Crystal Palace citing a groin injury. Jamaican team leader Grace Jackson would not confirm Powell was missing the race, saying a “technical meeting” was taking place. Clearly the news was not known even in sprinting circles. World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt said: “Asafa’s out? That’s the first I heard of it.” Powell’s absence will take much of the luster off the 100-meter race with Bolt now a standout favourite to retain his title on Sunday in the South Korean city of Daegu. Former world record holder Powell is the quickest man in the world over 100 meters this year, having clocked 9.78 in Lausanne in June.
