Posted: April 5, 2006

Athletics: Despite Published Claims, No Gatlin-Powell Match-Up In Nigeria

By Bob Ramsak
© 2006 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved

Despite published reports, reigning world and Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin and Asafa Powell of Jamaica, the world record holder in the event, will not square off at a meet in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 6.

"This story is false," said Renaldo Nehemiah, Gatlin's manager, in an email to TPR.

Stories circulated widely among African and Caribbean-based news networks quoted Sunday Bada, a former 400m international sprinter and currently the Technical and Performance Director for the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, as saying that negotiations with the sprinters were underway for their participation at the kick-off meet of the African Grand Prix.

"We are already discussing with their managers and remain hopeful that we are likely to reach favorable conclusion," Bada was reported to have said.

Not so, according to Nehemiah.

"I've never spoken to anyone about this," said Nehemiah. "I didn't even know about a GP race in Nigeria. This is clearly false advertising. And a way to mislead the public."

Nehemiah said he sent a complaint about the reports to the IAAF competitions department, and was told that such claims are common practice in that region of the world.

The next meeting on the track between the two sprinters remains the most anticipated in track and field, but when the two will race is not yet certain. Both Nehemiah and Paul Doyle, who manages Powell, have said that many upcoming appearances are still under negotiation. Nehemiah did confirm however that Gatlin will not be in the chase for this year's Golden League Jackpot. The men's 100 meters is slated as a Golden League event this year, in which the winner of five of the six races can claim a share of $500,000.

"Justin will not run enough of them to qualify," he said.

The last meeting between the two was last June at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. In a virtual dead heat, Gatlin was given the nod, each credited with a wind-assisted 9.84 performance. After Powell's 9.77 world record dash in Athens later that month, he was beset by injury woes. He pulled out of the Golden Gala meet in Rome in early July where he was to face Gatlin, and pulled up and didn't finish at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix in late July. His nagging groin injury sidelined him from the World Championships, and ending his season.

This year Gatlin skipped the indoor season while Powell displayed solid early season form with his dominating performance at last month's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, winning the 100m title with ease before anchoring the victorious Jamaican 400m relay quartet.

The best likelihood for their next match-up will be at this year's Prefontaine Classic, scheduled for May 28. Meet sponsor Nike contractually obligates many of its top athletes to participate in the meet. Both Gatlin and Powell are sponsored by the shoe company.

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