INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (Reuters):

World record holder Asafa Powell was slightly injured winning the Jamaican championship on Saturday, his agent said yesterday.

"It is an injury, but we are not sure how bad it is. I am still trying to contact Asafa," Paul Doyle told Reuters at the U.S. championships.

"From what I have heard, he came across the finish line holding his groin, then walked off the track with no limp," Doyle said.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) website www.IAAF.org said: "Powell showed some discomfort midway through the race and seemed even to come to a near halt twice within the first 60 metres.

"(He) crossed the line in 10.04 seconds, but then immediately lay flat on his back for about three minutes. He was helped to his feet and briskly taken away for treatment."

Doyle said it was too early to tell how the injury would affect Powell's season.

"His next race is not until July 6 in Paris," Doyle said.

The world record holder is favourite to win the 100 at August's World Championships in Osaka, Japan. He missed the 2005 event in Helsinki with an injury.