Chest injury sidelines Powell until late June

Jamaican 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell has withdrawn from all competition until late June so he can recover from a pulled chest muscle, his manager told Reuters.

The move is precautionary and the injury to Powell's pectoral muscle is not expected to affect the Jamaican's long-range preparations for August's Beijing Olympics, Paul Doyle told Reuters in a telephone interview from his home in Atlanta.

His race with American world champion Tyson Gay is expected to be one of the highlights of the Games, which begin on Aug. 8.

"The pec injury will keep him out for a little while and as a result we feel it is best that he get more training in and wait to compete till much later," Doyle said. "We don't expect there is anything to be concerned about beyond the end of June," he added.

Powell will miss competitions in Doha in May and in Oslo and Eugene, Oregon, in June as he recovered, Doyle said.

His first race back is expected to be the Jamaican championships in late June.

Powell pulled the muscle while weightlifting in Jamaica two weeks ago. He withdrew from recent relay races in California and Philadelphia before deciding to end his early season until the muscle healed.