Asafa Powell showed he had recovered from his disappointing third place at the world championships by breaking his 100 metres world record with a time of 9.74 seconds yesterday.

The Jamaican Commonwealth champion set the record in his heat at the Rieti IAAF Grand Prix and then went on to win the final in 9.78.

"It is a very fast record. It is to remind my friends that Asafa is still here," he told reporters.

Powell had previously shared the record of 9.77 with American Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, who has been banned for doping pending the result of an arbitration hearing.

At the Osaka world championships last month, Powell finished third in the final behind American Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas.

The 24-year-old said at the time he had given up during the Osaka race but would make amends by breaking his world record before the end of the year. "I've been with my coach and working hard to get back to normal," Powell said.

"The last 40 metres were very strong. I executed it and did what I came to do today."