( LEFT )Powell ... not ready to face the big boys. ( RIGHT )Gatlin: It's a deception for the public, the media and his fans. - FILE PHOTOS
WORLD 100-metre record holder Asafa Powell has pulled out of today's big Golden League clash against Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin in Zurich, Switzerland.
Powell made it clear at the meet's press conference yesterday that he is not ready to face the big boys.
"For the moment, I am not ready to run with all the fast boys. Justin ran pretty well in Helsinki, that is true. But I think I do not have anything to prove. I ran a world record, I ran something no one has ever achieved," the Jamaican, who is struggling to overcome a groin tear which kept him out of the World Championships in Helsinki, told journalists.
Meanwhile, Gatlin said it meant nothing to him that Powell had withdrawn.
NOT A BLOW
"It is not a blow for me that Asafa Powell does not show up," Gatlin said.
"This is something that's been repeated many times," said Gatlin when asked about his rival's withdrawal. "He shows up, says he's going to win and then pulls out at the last second.
"It's not good for his PR or supporters for him to keep ducking out - he should just say he's injured and take the rest of the season off ... it's a deception for the public, the media and his fans when he says he might run and then withdraws one day before the race."
Powell, who ran the world record of 9.77 second on June 14 in Athens, said he came to Zurich with the intention to run but things did feel good in training on Wednesday.
NEED MORE DAYS
"I still need some more days but I am not giving up the season because it is getting better day by day," said Powell.
Gatlin said he placed more stock in consistent performances than world records.
"When you look at people like Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Maurice Greene, the key to their success was not world records - it was their dominance," Gatlin said.
"Those athletes dominated just about every race they stepped in. And that's what I want to do."
Meanwhile, Powell is down to run in Bruxelles next Friday, the fifth of six Golden League meets this season.
The world's fastest man had given indication that he has overcome the disappointments of missing the World Championships, by saying: "World Championships are every two years, so you have the chance to win a medal again".
"I want to do that at the next championships. Yes, it is frustrating that I was not able to race in Helsinki. I wanted to go for gold. I felt I could break my own record. We are all a young generation of sprinters and from my point of view nobody is really dominant."
