Jamaican Asafa Powell equalled the men's 100 metres world record for the second time this year, clocking 9.77 seconds at a Golden League meeting tonight. Powell initially set the record in Athens on June 14th, 2005.
The 23-year-old then equalled the time at a grand prix meeting in Gateshead, England on June 11 this year. He jointly holds the record with Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin, who ran 9.77 in Doha on May 12 but the American has since announced he failed a dope test for testosterone in April.
Without serious competition on Friday, Powell blasted down the fast Letzigrund track to finish 0.07 seconds ahead of Tyson Gay of the United States. "I'm very happy," Powell told reporters as he left the track. "Can I run faster? I think so - we'll just have to wait and see."
Americans Leonard Scott (9.97) in third and fourth-placed Marcus Brunson (9.99) also dipped under 10 seconds. Newly-crowned European champion Francis Obikwelu of Portugal finished well off the pace in 10.26 seconds after appearing to struggle from the start.
Gatlin faces a life ban from the sport after announcing his positive test last month.