Former world record holder Asafa Powell boosted his Olympic hopes as he edged controversial American Michael Rodgers to win the Shanghai Diamond League men's 100m in 10.02sec on Saturday.
Powell, beaten by a resurgent Justin Gatlin in this month’s opening Diamond League meeting in Doha, timed six hundredths of a second quicker than Rodgers, who was recently slapped with a nine-month, retroactive drug ban.
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Jamaica’s Nesta Carter was third with American Darvis Patton fourth. Powell, 29, has vowed to go “all out” at London 2012 as he bids to erase his reputation of shrinking on the big stage. But he is expected to be outshone by compatriots Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, the Olympic and world champions.
“It was a good result. Technically it was good. We did a lot of work in Jamaica,” said Powell. “It’s still two months to the Olympics. I’m satisfied.
Shanghai is a good meet, the crowd is fantastic... I’m excited.” Meanwhile, China’s Liu Xiang won the 110m hurdles in 12.97sec as he strengthened his bid to reclaim the Olympic title. Liu won it comfortably from America’s David Oliver and world champion Jason Richardson.
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