BERLIN -
BERLIN - The Jamaican team has asked the IAAF to withdraw Asafa Powell, a former 100-metre world-record holder, and five teammates from the entry list for the world championships in an apparent dispute over training camp attendance.
IAAF secretary general Pierre Weiss said the request was made early Wednesday but didn't disclose a reason. The Jamaican athletics federation has been in a dispute with several athletes over a training camp for the worlds.
The other athletes are 100 Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, 400 hurdles Olympic gold medallist Melaine Walker, hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton, sprinter Shericka Williams and 400 runner Kaliese Spence.
The request could be rescinded because the final entry list has to be with organizers 48 hours before the opening event. The worlds start Saturday in Berlin, and the withdrawals will only become official at midday Thursday.
Jamaican officials attending the IAAF congress declined to immediately comment.
Any such pullout would seriously undermine Jamaica's chances of maintaining its domination over the United States in the sprint events that it established at last year's Beijing Olympics.
After capturing five of six sprint events in Beijing with the U.S. winless, Jamaica's rise had been expected to be a key theme at the worlds.
Even though three-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt is not directly affected by the decision, a sprint relay team without Powell is expected to be weaker. Powell ran the anchor leg in Beijing as Jamaica set a world record, one of three for Bolt at the games.
The Jamaican federation also asked the IAAF to ban the withdrawn runners from the athletes village.
Earlier this week, Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association president Howard Aris warned the athletes that they would miss the worlds unless they appear at a training camp outside Berlin.
Meanwhile, the IAAF said it's still awaiting information on a ruling that cleared five Jamaican athletes of doping and a decision on their participation in the world championships is likely to come close to Saturday's opening.
"We are following the matter. We are not saying anything today," said Weiss.
The IAAF would have liked to have dealt with the issue well ahead of their biennial championships and has been sharply critical of the way the Jamaicans have addressed the situation and the lack of urgency with which it has been transmitting information.
