 Gatlin is the Olympic and World 100m champion |
Joint world 100m record holder Justin Gatlin says he is still hopeful of racing against fellow record-holder Asafa Powell in London on 28 July. It had been reported the world and Olympic champion would miss the Crystal Palace meeting with leg injuries, but he says he hopes he can still compete.
"At this point in time, I have not made a decision yet," said Gatlin, who shares the world record of 9.77 secs.
"Running in London is what my heart is set on. That is what I am working on."
Jamaican Powell, who set the original record in 2005 and matched it in June this year, has not met his great rival since last year's Crystal Palace meeting, but will compete at this year's event, with or without Gatlin.
The American won that last meeting after Powell pulled up with a groin strain which subsequently put him out of the World Championships in Helsinki.
But this year it is the American who has struggled with injury.
Gatlin said his right calf had become swollen and slightly strained after the US championships at the end of June, and he missed the Athens IAAF Super Grand Prix as a result.
If they do not meet at Crystal Palace, it is unclear when they will next have the chance to go head-to-head, as there are no major championships this season.
Crystal Palace event organiser Ian Stewart claimed to have had it confirmed in writing from Gatlin's agent Renaldo Nehemiah that his cleint would not be competing in London.
But Gatlin said he had not told Nehemiah to pull him out of the meeting and he would need to talk to him about it.
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Justin Gatlin's sprint masterclass 