• Athletics

Bolt won't clash with Gay until Worlds

ESPN staff
March 25, 2011
Usain Bolt suffered a rare defeat to Tyson Gay last season © Getty Images
Enlarge

Usain Bolt will go head-to-head with Asafa Powell in Rome in May, but is unlikely to face rival Tyson Gay before the World Championships in August.

The double world record holder had already confirmed that he would kick off his season at the Diamond League meeting in Rome on May 26, but now fellow Jamaican Powell has confirmed his attendance.

Bolt struggled with an Achilles injury last season and was beaten by Gay in Stockholm in August, but will not have a chance to avenge the defeat until he defends his 100m world title in Daegu at the end of the summer after Gay's agent Mark Wetmore admitted a showdown was unlikely.

"I don't think it is all that likely [before Daegu]," Wetmore told Reuters. "It is a little early to know for sure. It's still possible but there is not one planned at the moment."

Bolt is also due to compete in Oslo, Paris, Monaco and Ostrava, but is expected to miss London's Diamond League meeting in August on account of British tax laws which require foreign sports stars to pay taxes on their worldwide endorsements.

Bolt, who earns the bulk of his money through sponsorship would stand to lose more money than he would earn if he were to run at Crystal Palace. Although Bolt's agent Ricky Simms refused to rule out Bolt's attendance in London, he admitted it was unlikely.

"The situation with London is a little more difficult with the taxes there," Simms told Reuters. "We would like to run there but it is outside of our control really."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices