POWELL
FORMER 100m World Record holder Asafa Powell expressed shock at news that American Justin Gatlin, the new world record holder, might withdraw from their much-anticipated 100-metre showdown at the Gateshead Grand Prix in London.
Both Gatlin and Powell, the Commonwealth Games cham-pion, were scheduled to clash at the June 11 meeting. But Gatlin and his management team recently expressed doubts about competing at the meet.
A dissatisfied Powell said that decision would mean he's a coward.
"I heard he (Gatlin) pulled out but I don't know why," said Powell, following his return to Jamaica from last weekend's Felix Sanchez Invitational in the Dominican Republic.
SECOND HALF INJURY
Powell said after he got injured in the second half of last season, which forced him to miss most of his schedule races, Gatlin said he was 'hiding'.
"Last year he was saying that I am a coward, so this year, if he pulls out of anything again, I am going to say he is a coward," Powell said.
Doubts surfaced when Gatlin's agent ,Renaldo Nehemiah, in an interview with USAToday, said their clash at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix meeting at Gateshead might not happen.
"Everybody's clamouring for the first meeting (Powell-Gatlin)," Nehemiah said. "I would say they'll meet this year, maybe two times. Maybe once. No more than three," added Nehemiah while shying away from mentioning the Gateshead clash.
However, there came better news yesterday when organisers of the Norwich Union British Grand Prix reassured fans that the clash in still on.
Meet director Ian Stewart was quoted on PA Sports website as saying: "Subsequent to the speculation in the American press we have contacted Gatlin's agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, who has assured us that Justin will race in Gateshead at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix."
At the Qatar IAAF World Super Tour meeting in Doha on Friday, Gatlin sizzled to 9.76 seconds to clipped one-hundredth of a second off the previous world record that Powell set in Athens last year.
Powell has vowed to regain his record, which he said is only on loan, from his American rival.
"The plan is just to regain my title as soon as possible," said the 23-year-old Powell whose next race will be at the Bislett Games in Oslo on June 3.
"I'm not sure if it's the next time I touch the track but it will happen soon," he predicted.
- A. Foster
