World record holder Asafa Powell, who is recovering from a groin injury, has entered the 100 meter race at Friday's Golden Gala meet.
"I suppose he won't be in form to set a new record after his injury, but we're happy to have him," meet director Luigi D'Onofrio said on Monday.
Powell has not run the 100 since getting injured while still winning at the Jamaican championships on June 23. He withdrew from the Golden League meet in Paris last week.
Today, Powell is expected to anchor Jamaica's 4x100 relay team in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Despite his return, Powell won't be running against Tyson Gay.
"He knew Powell was coming and so he decided not to come," D'Onofrio said. "I don't think they will race before Osaka because they don't want to."
The world athletics championships will be held in Osaka, Japan, from August 25 to September 2. Gay ran 9.84 seconds into a strong headwind at the US championships last month, then won the 200 two days later in 19.62, the second-fastest time in history.
Powell twice last year equaled his 100 world record of 9.77 seconds. He went undefeated in the 100 last year and had an unprecedented 12 sub-10 races. His fastest time so far this year was 9.94 at the opening Golden League meet in Oslo.
{{/usCountry}}Powell twice last year equaled his 100 world record of 9.77 seconds. He went undefeated in the 100 last year and had an unprecedented 12 sub-10 races. His fastest time so far this year was 9.94 at the opening Golden League meet in Oslo.
{{/usCountry}}Rome is the third meet in the lucrative series. Amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is also coming to Rome. He was invited to run a 400 "B" race before making his official international debut in Sheffield, England, two days later.