By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

STOCKHOLM, Sweden: The arrival of Asafa Powell for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan later this month has been put on hold because he, along with several other Jamaicans, were unable to acquire visas to visit the host country.

100m world record holder, Asafa Powell. AFP PHOTO

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, the contingent from the Maximising Velocity Power (MVP) track and field club, which is headed by Powell, and includes sprinter Nesta Carter (100m), Shericka Williams (400m) and Melaine Walker (400m Hurdles), had problems obtaining visas at the Japanese consulate in Milan.

Manager Paul Doyle and the group are currently in Stockholm, Sweden, after yesterday's DN Galan meeting and he is hoping the issue can be resolved as soon as possible.

"We are having a bit of an issue now dealing with visas, but we hope to have that sorted out by the end of this week to depart on Monday," said Doyle.

"The consulate in Milan is giving us more trouble than we thought it would be."

Doyle said they will be going back to the Japan consulate in Milan on Wednesday.

"We are going to try and get the visas and hopefully by Friday we will have them and be ready to depart on Monday," he said.

Meanwhile, following her 11.61 performance in the Stockholm Stadium on Tuesday, which did no good to her quest for a slot on the Jamaican team for the world championships, Sherone Simpson will now have to wait on the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), who will determine if the sprinter makes the trip or not.

"It's (Sherone's selection) still in the hands of the selectors," Doyle said. "We are completely at their liberty and we stand by whatever their decision is, but Sherone still does want to go to Osaka."

From all reports, Simpson has already gotten over the hip injury she sustained earlier this season, but is still battling with mental problems.

"It's unfortunate the Worlds come up this quick and she had a deadline she had to make ... it's a shame she ran out of time," Doyle said.

When asked if she was still injured the manager said no and added that "It's just taking her a while to get back in the swing of things with her confidence".