WASHINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Co-world record holders of the 100 meters Asafa Powell of Jamaica and American Justin Gatlin will not race each other at Gateshead, England, next month, according to reports from Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.

    "It's officially off," Renaldo Nehemiah, the American's manager told Reuters in an interview in Eugene, where the two sprinters are scheduled to run separate 100 meters races on Sunday.

    Nehemiah said he never had a contract for Gatlin to run a 100 meters against Powell at the June 11 Gateshead meeting.

    "Justin's contract gave him the option of running the 100 or 200 meters," Nehemiah was quoted as saying.

    A race between the two became a hot item after Gatlin earlier this month tied Powell's world record of 9.77 seconds. Enditem