Justin Gatlin

NEW YORK - Former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell and 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin - trying to escape the shame of a four-year doping ban - will lead a stellar 50-metre field at the US Open.  

Apart from Walker, her MVP teammates, Olympic 100m winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist Michael Frater, and World University Games 100m champion Carrie Russell are also down for their season-opener.  

Powell will make his first indoor appearance since 2004 at the meet. He held the 100m world record at 9.77 seconds from 2005 until compatriot and current world record-holder and 2008 Olympic champion Usain Bolt broke it in 2008. Powell ...  

Former 100-meter world record-holder Asafa Powell and 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin, trying to escape the shame of a four-year doping ban, will lead a stellar 50-meter field at the US Open.  

Merlene Ottey, who placed fourth originally, was given a ban in 1999 that was subsequently overturned by the IAAF. Eleven years on, officially there is no winner of the ghost race in Sydney.