Injury sidelines Powell from Stockholm’s DN Galan – Samsung Diamond League

Courtesy of IAAF
Stockholm, Sweden – Asafa Powell was forced to withdraw from Friday’s DN Galan Samsung Diamond League meeting due to injury, organisers announced.

Powell, who was slated to face World record holder Usain Bolt and U.S. record holder Tyson Gay in the 100m on Friday, suffered a minor groin injury in the Paris Diamond League meeting last month and has since suffered additional setbacks, according to a statement issued by Doyle Management Group, the firm which represents Powell.

While the groin injury healed over the ensuing days, a back and hamstring problem then developed. The latest setback, described by Powell as “tightness and severe pain”, prevented the Jamaican from training for 10 days after his Paris race. Over the course of the last week the pain has dissipated and Powell has been progressing at a slow rate. He resumed normal training but has been unable to go at maximum effort.

“This morning, Asafa tested himself with starts from blocks and was just
unable to push from the blocks without severe pain,” the statement read. “He has improved over the course of the past week but is still not at a level where he could attempt a race.”

"I am absolutely devastated," Powell said. " I was really looking forward to the race against Usain and Tyson. This year I have been running very well and I was hoping that I would be in the race with a solid chance to win, but with the way my back and legs have been feeling I know it would be difficult to even finish the race."

As scheduled, Powell will appear at a press conference in Stockholm on Thursday (5 Aug) along with Bolt and Gay.