Powell confirmed for 100 metres in Japan

TOKYO, Sep 11 (Reuters) Japanese organisers confirmed today that world record holder Asafa Powell will run in the 100 metres at this month's Super Track and Field meeting.

The Jamaican will be making his first trip to Japan for the September 24 event in Yokohama.

Powell's victory in Stuttgart at the weekend was his 23rd straight win and his time of 9.89 seconds his 12th legal sub-10 second run of 2006.

The 23-year-old set the current world record of 9.77 seconds in Athens in 2005. He equalled the time in Gateshead in June this year.

Olympic champion Justin Gatlin had shared the record with Powell until the American was banned for up to eight years last month for a doping violation.

REUTERS AY KN1716