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Injury sidelines Powell
29/04/2008 07:54 - (SA)
Salvo - Jamaican 100m world record holder Asafa Powell has withdrawn from all competition until late June so he can recover from a pulled chest muscle, his manager said on Monday.
The move is precautionary and the injury to Powell's
pectoral muscle is not expected to affect the Jamaican's
long-range preparations for August's Beijing Olympics, Paul
Doyle said in a telephone interview from his home in
Atlanta.
His race with American world champion Tyson Gay is expected
to be one of the highlights of the Games, which begin on Aug.
8.
"The pec injury will keep him out for a little while and as a result we feel it is best that he get more training in and
wait to compete till much later," Doyle said.
"We don't expect there is anything to be concerned about beyond the end of June," he added.
Powell will miss competitions in Doha in May and in Oslo
and Eugene, Oregon, in June as he recovered, Doyle said.
Weightlifting
His first race back is expected to be the Jamaican
championships in late June.
Powell pulled the muscle while weightlifting in Jamaica two
weeks ago. He withdrew from recent relay races in California
and Philadelphia before deciding to end his early season until
the muscle healed.
"He is disappointed," Doyle said. "He loves to compete but he understands the bigger picture is getting ready for the Olympic Games. If he was to rush back and get ready for these meets (in May and June) the further on in the summer he may
suffer."
The injury affects Powell's arm movement.
"He is fine walking around, but he can't aggressively drive his arms," Doyle said earlier.
"He has seen four or five different people and they all say the same thing. That it will take a little bit of time for that to calm down and recover," Doyle added.
"Until then he cannot go 100%."
The setback is the second for Powell this season.
He cut his left knee while falling down stairs at his home
in Jamaica, which forced him to miss a race in Sydney in
February.
He recovered in time to run 10.04 seconds for 100m at
a meeting in Melbourne. His record of 9.74 seconds was set in
2007.
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Rugby
