Powell leaves rivals in his wake in Doha

ATHLETICS: Asafa Powell laid down a challenge to his 100metre rivals by clocking a wind-aided 9.75seconds as the IAAF Diamond League got under way in Doha.

The Jamaican former world record holder, running his first 100m of the season, recorded the time in his heat before winning the final in 9.81secs at the inaugural meeting in the series at the Qatar Sports Club.

Powell was one of five to go under the 10sec mark in the final, which was helped by a following wind of 2.3m per second. Another Jamaican, Nesta Carter, was second in 9.88 and American Travis Padgett third in 9.92.

Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogu could only muster a fifth-place finish in the 400m as American three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix won in 50.15sec.