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

OKLAHOMA, USA: Asafa Powell, the world’s fastest man, has said that it is not in his plans to run the 100m and 200m sprint double at the forthcoming IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, this summer.

There were rumours suggesting that the Jamaican national champion in the event would consider adding the half-lap race to his schedule, following his 19.90 personal best performance last year.

However, the 100m world record holder at 9.77-seconds said he does not intend to run the double, especially seeing that he does not fancy running the 200m.

“I do not intend to do the double in Osaka,” Powell was quoted as telling L’Equipe. “I plan to do the 100m and the 4×100m relay. I do not like [the 200m] much.

“I know that my coach and my agent want me to do it. But the 200m will be very hard because there are a number of guys who can go under 20 seconds. It will be a very open race.”

Powell had a superb season in 2006, including setting a record 12-sub 10-seconds in one season and improving his half-lap career best to join five other men dipping below 20-seconds in the season, and his coach Stephen Francis has not fully dismissed the chances of the record holder running both events this summer.

According to Francis, Powell has always trained to race in both sprint events and there were possibilities of him considering attempting the 200m at a couple of meets leading up to the championships.

"It really is a trick which he can explore," Francis said. "The double is a challenge.

“Personally I do not think the elite are judged by gold medals. I believe that the athletes must be ready to perform at any moment."