SALVO, North Carolina, (Reuters) – World 100 metres  silver medallist Tyson Gay has successfully undergone surgery on  a painful groin problem that hampered him during much of the  athletics season, his manager said yesterday.

Mark Wetmore told Reuters minor surgery had taken place on  both sides of Gay’s groin in Philadelphia on Friday.

“The doctor (William Meyers) was really, really happy with  the surgery and Tyson should start walking today,” Wetmore said.

He said the American sprinter should be able to start light  training in December after a month’s rehabilitation and be fully  recovered in time for next year’s outdoor season.

Gay, 27, began experiencing problems with his groin in July  but continued to run saying the injury was more painful when he  sat down or walked than when he ran.

The American finished second to Jamaican Usain Bolt’s 100  metres world record 9.58 seconds at the world championships in  Berlin in August but did not attempt to defend his 2007 world  200 title because of pain from the groin.

He later equalled the second-fastest 100 metres of all time  when he clocked a national record 9.69 seconds in Shanghai in  September.

DIAMOND LEAGUE
Wetmore said negotiations for Gay’s participation in the new  Diamond League circuit next year were continuing.

Both Gay and Bolt are likely to run a mixture of 100 and 200  metres on the world circuit.

“The idea is to have both run seven (Diamond League) meets,  possibly even eight with a couple of a match-ups between the two  throughout the year,” Wetmore said. “And to put those match-ups  on the calendar early.

“The plan is to have that done by the IAAF Gala (on Nov. 22  in Monaco),” said Wetmore, who is also the organiser for the  Diamond League’s New York meeting.