Gatlin pulls out of Powell showdown
Gatlin pulls out of Powell showdown
Also In The News
|
Brian McDermott has made Warrington's back-row player Paul Noone the first signing of his reign as head coach at the Twickenham Stoop. |  |
Friday, 14, Jul 2006 10:28
Olympic champion Justin Gatlin has pulled out of his showdown with rival Asafa Powell at Crystal Palace in a fortnight through injury.
The World champion is still suffering from a calf strain which forced him to withdraw from the Athens super grand prix at the beginning of the month.
Gatlin, who shares the 100-metre world record with Powell, picked up the injury in the US championships in Indianapolis last month.
Their face-off on July 28th had been stirred up by Powell's comments last weekend that Gatlin was "avoiding him" following his victory in Paris.
UK Athletics spokesman John Ridgeon said he was disappointed at Gatlin's withdrawal but said it is a common occurance in top-level athletics.
He added: "We have worked extremely hard to bring Gatlin and Powell together at the London Grand Prix but, clearly, in top-level professional sport when athletes are running at their physical limits, injuries can occur."
The pair have not faced each other on the track since last July at Crystal Palace when Gatlin emerged victorious after the Jamaican pulled up with a groin strain.
Powell is one of four athletes in contention for a jackpot of $1 million dollars ahead of tonight's Golden League meeting in Rome.