Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
ASAFA POWELL'S camp has denied reports of "unprofessional conduct" for not appearing at today's Vardinoyiannia athletics meeting in Rethymnon, Crete.
On Wednesday, the organisers of the event said Powell would attempt to take sole possession of the 100 metre world record (9.77 seconds) he shares with American rival Justin Gatlin at Rethymnon's Gallos Stadium.
Yesterday, the meet organisers aired their displeasure at Powell and his teammates for not boarding their plane to travel to the meet.
"We will send a report to the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) and the EAF (European Athletics Federation) to express our unhappiness about the athletes, the agent ... for their unprofessional conduct," the organisers said in a statement.
NOT SIGNED TO TAKE PART
However, according to coach Stephen Francis, unlike Sherone Simpson, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Michael Frater, Powell was not signed to take part.
"Asafa was not down to compete at this meet, so he did not withdraw as stated in these reports," Francis said on a website.
"We had an agreement for Asafa to compete in the 100m but then the meet representatives told us that the majority of the agreed fee would not be paid until some time next year," he said. "We then told the meet rep that we would not be competing on those terms and that Asafa and the other athletes would withdraw.
"The meet promoter asked us (as a favour) to allow the other athletes to run and for us to still carry Asafa to the meet even though he would not be competing ... we agreed."
Meet official Vangelis Melikounakis also said the Jamaicans pulled out because they were not allowed to take their spikes on board the plane.
"They were afraid they would lose their spikes and did not get on the plane," Melikounakis told AP.
However, manager Paul Doyle denied the claim. "That not true. They didn't want him (Powell) to carry on his hand luggage," Doyle told The Gleaner yesterday.
Doyle said, according to the check-in clerk, the hand luggage was overweight but their request to transfer some weight to other luggage was unsuccessful.
"They told us we could not get back the luggage in time for the flight. We didn't feel comfortable in checking them (hand luggage) on," Doyle stated.
