Asafa Powell - FILE
JAMAICAN WORLD 100-metre record holder Asafa Powell remains doubtful for the March 15-26 Commonwealth Games in Australia but will leave the island for Australia on February 26 with other members of the Stephen Francis-coached MVP Track Club.
The MVP crew is set to leave Jamaica immediately after the Gibson Relays on February 25.
Powell's manager, Paul Doyle, who said the top sprinter was experiencing problems with groin soreness, which ended a wonderful season last July.
"Asafa still has a little tightness there, which is probably something he doesn't need but he is ahead of where he was at this stage last year," Doyle told The Age newspaper in Australia while referring to a previous energy.
NO RUNNING NOW
"You can never say anything is 100 per cent but we certainly don't see him pulling out at this stage," Doyle added.
The Commonwealth Games will run from March 15-26 in Melbourne, Australia.
While his rehabilitation is still taking place, Doyle made it clear Powell "wouldn't be running if the Commonwealth Games were on tomorrow".
Powell injured his groin after running his world record 9.77 seconds in Athens, June last year.
He further damaged himself at the national championships and broke down in a race in London in July.
Doyle was quizzed after former many-time Jamaican 400-metre champion Sandie Richards, who arrived in Australia, told journalists Powell was doubtful.
Richards told journalists Powell was still recovering from injury and the timing of the Commonwealth Games might jeopardise his participation in high priority events such as the European grand prix circuit and the World Cup in Athens in September.
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