Asafa Powell is looking for a big pay day.
Entering Sunday's ISTAF meet, he is among four athletes in
contention for a share of the $1 million US bonus at the final
Golden League meet of the year. The prize is shared among event
winners in all six Golden League meets.
Powell, who owns the 100-metre world record of 9.77 seconds, is
looking to finish under 10 seconds. Running in cold and wet
conditions in Poland on Wednesday, he ended his streak of 10
straight races under 10 seconds (10.02).
The weather forecast in Berlin calls for rain, an unfavourable
condition for world records in the sprints.
Following a season marred by doping cases involving sprinters
Justin Gatlin and Marion Jones, blood tests will be conducted for
the first time at the event.
Gatlin, who shared the world record in the 100 with Powell,
received an eight-year ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Association
last month. He avoided a lifetime penalty in exchange for his
co-operation with doping authorities.
Berlin organizers did not invite Jones ahead of her positive test
for EPO, which was reported last month.
They did not invite athletes coached by Trevor Graham, who is
under investigation by the sport's ruling body and the U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency.
Aside from Powell, other contenders for a share of the $1 million
bonus are Jeremy Wariner (400), Sanya Richards (400) and Tirunesh
Dibaba (5,000).
``My objective this season was to break the world 5,000 record in
Oslo,'' Dibaba said. ``But after running a personal best there, a
lot of Ethiopians encouraged me to run the entire series.''
