Injured Powell withdraws from London Diamond League

LONDON, (Reuters) – Former 100 metres world record  holder Asafa Powell withdrew from this week’s London Diamond  League meeting yesterday with a back and hamstring strain.

The Jamaican, whose 100m duel with Tyson Gay was to be one  of the highlights of the Crystal Palace event, is suffering with  the same injury that forced him out of the Stockholm meeting  last week.

“I am disappointed that I will not be able to run at the  London Grand Prix as I love running in front of the Jamaican  fans here,” Powell said in a statement.

“I visited the doctor yesterday and he has advised me not to  run in order to help the recovery of my injury. I had hoped it  would be better but unfortunately this is not so.”

The withdrawal of Powell, who held the 100 metres world  record for three years until it was lowered by Usain Bolt in  2008, is a blow to organisers who had hoped to stage a showdown  between Powell, Gay and Olympic and world champion Bolt.

Bolt declined to enter because of tax reasons and has since  been ruled out for the season with injury.

Gay’s main rival in London will now be fellow American  Walter Dix, the Olympic bronze medallist.

The London Diamond League meeting is today and tomorrow.