Powell has been in superb form throughout this year

Powell, 23, has run the same time twice before, first in Athens in June 2005 and again in Gateshead last month.

"I couldn't ask for better, I've got nothing to complain about," said Powell. "One way or another there will come a time when I run under 9.77sec."

American Tyson Gay finished second in a personal best of 9.84secs.

Olympic and world champion Gatlin also ran 9.77 in Doha on 12 May this year.

But he was subsequently found to have tested positive for testosterone in April, and faces a lifetime ban and the loss of his record run if he is found guilty by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Powell's latest record run came despite an arduous trip from Jamaica, which took three days because of disruptions caused by the alleged terror plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights from London.

He is among nine athletes fighting for a share in a US$1m jackpot, having now won all four of his Golden League events.

American 400m runners Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards, as well as Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba (5000m), all triumphed in their events to maintain their jackpot hopes.

Meanwhile, Saif Shaheen Saeed, the Kenyan-born Qatari, failed in his attempt on his own world record in the 3000m steeplechase, coming home almost three seconds off the pace in seven minutes 56.54 seconds.

Ethiopia's world and Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele put in a fierce final sprint to see off Kenyan Isaac Songok in 12 minutes 48.25 seconds.

Kenyan Augustine Choge, the Commonwealth 5000m champion, won the 1500m in a personal best of three minutes 32.72 seconds.

Veteran Allen Johnson, 35, won the men's 110m hurdles in a season's best of 13.14 seconds, the former Olympic and world champion securing his sixth win in Zurich since 1997.

Sherone Simpson made it a Jamaican sweep in the 100m by easily winning in 11.09 seconds ahead of American duo Me'Lisa Barber and Stephanie Durst.