Asafa Powell A Doubt For Commonwealth Games

Asafa Powell could be the latest big name not to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi this autumn.

The Jamaican is the reigning 100m champion has bee struggling with back and hamstring problems in recent weeks which saw him miss the Diamond League meetings at Crystal Palace and Zurich.

Powell picked up in the injury in Paris earlier this summer and is still struggling to run with the pain that the injury is causing. Powell has clocked the joint quickest 100m time of the season, sharing the 9.82 seconds with compatriot and Olympic Champion Bolt.

This news will come as a major blow for the Games as Usain Bolt has already announced that he will not be racing again this season as he begins his preparation for the World Championships next summer.

And while there had been some security fear raised over the games, which get underway in about six weeks time, Powell's agent Paul Doyle never suggested that security was an issue.

Speaking to the Mail in Sunday Doyle said: "A final decision is imminent, but it's looking extremely unlikely at best that Asafa will be in India.

"The timing couldn't be much worse for Asafa.

"For him, just as for Usain, the next two-year cycle means everything and he doesn't want anything, such as his pre-season being put back, or his injuries flaring up again, to affect this."
 
Powell is just one of a string of high profile names including Jenny Meadows, Jessica Enis, Martyn Rooney and Michael Rimmer who will all be missing from the competition.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw