MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC- Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell could be out of Australia’s Stawell Gift today after suffering a tight hamstring on Saturday.
His backup team has sounded upbeat saying Powell could still recover in time for today’s semi-finals and final after responding to physiotherapy.
However the Jamaican sprint super star said he would not be risking further hamstring problems by running.
“No, I definitely can’t run (on Monday),” Powell told reporters.
“The hammy is giving me some problems and it wouldn’t be fair to me to go out there and push it”.
Powell was competing for the first time since damaging his groin in the 100m final at last year’s London Olympics.
He experienced soreness in the hamstring during the warm-up on Saturday although he still finished third in his heat in 12.32 seconds off the scratch mark.
“I really wanted to give the crowd the performance today,”Powell said.
“From 30 metres, the leg started to get real tight. I came out of the drive phase and just started running. But I wasn’t running 100 per cent.”
If Powell pulls out of the Gift, he will incur an automatic 14-day suspension, ruling him out of the 100-metre event at the Melbourne Track Classic on April 6.
But his travelling coach Aundre Edwards said Powell could still be on the start line for the Stawell Gift on Easter Monday.
“The physio is looking at it and it all looks good so far, so we’ll wait and see,” Edwards said.
“He’s still got a day’s rest and nothing has been ruled out so far. When he spoke to me he didn’t feel an injury.”
The 30-year-old has seen his status as the fastest man in the world eclipsed by his younger rival and close friend Usain Bolt.
Powell has had a long list of injury-related disappointments throughout his career forcing him to skip the 2011 World Championships as well as a meltdown in the 100m final at last year’s London Olympic Games.
