KINGSTON, April 29: World 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell will be out of action for up to eight weeks after sustaining a chest muscle injury in training, reports said on Tuesday.

The Jamaica Gleaner cited the sprinter’s agent Paul Doyle as saying he pulled a chest muscle last week during an intense training session and he would not compete again until the Jamaican National Olympic trials from June 27-29.

Powell had been due to compete in last week’s Penn Relays in the United States, but the injury forced him to withdraw.

He will also be unable to race as planned in Doha on May 9, Berlin on June 1 and Oslo on June 6.—AFP