Yet again, an eagerly-awaited 100 meter showdown between World and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and World record holder Asafa Powell will not come to pass at tomorrow's Weltklasse TDK Golden League meeting. Still on the mend from a nagging groin injury, Powell was advised by physicians not to compete.

"I came here wanting to run, but yesterday when I was training, it didn't feel so good," the Jamaican said, who hasn't raced since pulling up at last month's Norwich Union London Grand Prix. "The doctor recommended that I shouldn't race."

Gatlin, fresh off his dominating double sprint victory at the World championships in Helsinki, said that while his rival's absence will be disappointing, he simply can't focus too much on who is and is not in the race.

"I can't really think too much about it," said Gatlin, who edged Powell in Eugene at May's Prefontaine Classic in their only meeting of the year. "He pulled up in London, he wasn't at the World Championships, and I just have to proceed with what I have to do: to make myself a part of history. And I hope he gets better because I want the best competition out there."

"I wouldn't say it's a blow," Gatlin said of Powell's withdrawal. "At first I was a little upset at the beginning of the season when he got hurt, but obviously this is something that's been repeating many a time, him saying he's going to show up and win the race and him pulling out at the last second. So that's not good PR for him. It's not good for his supporters knowing that he's ducking out. If you're hurt, you're hurt. Say you're hurt, take the time off and return when you're 100 percent. Don't go out there and try to woo the fans by saying you're coming out and then don't come out."

With nearly a month left in the season, Powell said he's not yet ready to call it quits for 2005 and wants to get back on the track.

"I'm not going to give up on the season. There's no point giving up. [The injury is] getting better day-by-day. But I'm not ready to run any good times right now. I'm just not ready. Sometimes it's kind of annoying because I really want to run."

For his part, Gatlin offered some friendly, if unsolicited advice.

"I'm not surprised that's he's not running, and watching his moves and watching what he does, I know he's still hurt. But with a two centimeter tear in your groin, you're not going to come back in two weeks. I've had a groin pull before. It's best for him to take the rest of the season off and come back great next year."

It's an assessment that Powell doesn't agree with.

I'm just eager to get back on the track and start running again," he said, insisting that he can resume precisely where he left off prior to his injury. "I haven't really lost any shape or any fitness right now, but I just need to get back and start running. I know I can do it again. It's frustrating. I felt that I could have broken the record again and I haven't gotten the chance to do it."

Theirs is not like the showboat rivalries of the past. Both athletes are calm and soft-spoken --Powell more so-- but at the same time exude the confidence necessary to bring them to the pinnacle of their event. While sharing their respect for the other, they are also staking their ground, making their next meeting among the most anticipated in the sporting world.

Says Powell, "I don't have anything to prove. People are saying that I have to beat Gatlin. But I've run 9.77 this year, so I have nothing to prove."

Minus the accolades that have gone Gatlin's way, Powell points out that his status as the event's world record holder isn't something that can be discounted lightly.

"I did something that no one else has ever done. I'm the fastest man in the world. Ever. I've run 9.77. I have the world record and I'm sure lots of people want it. I'm sure Justin wants it. Now I'm just waiting for another world championship to see what I can do."

But Gatlin isn't looking to Osaka just yet; his attention is fully focused on something more immediate: tomorrow's race at Letzigrund Stadium, his third appearance here.

"This is where it really counts, I think. My goal this year was to be the World champion in the 100 and 200, and this track meet and others to follow will show my dominance."

Gatlin said that his six races in Helsinki have left him a little tired, and that his allergies are beginning to kick in, but that he doesn't expect those details to distract him here.

"I have to come out and perform tomorrow. That's my job," he said, adding that he's hoping for another dash in 9.8 territory, "Or even faster."

"You have Maurice Greene back in the race," he continued, "you have Leonard Scott who's run great this season. And there will be other athletes out there waiting to bounce back after Helsinki. So I guess the target's on my back.