Monaco: Jamaican world 100m record holder Asafa Powell has said he will not compete in the coming indoor season, because it is too dangerous. Powell pulled out of the World Indoor Championships in Moscow earlier this year because it came just a week before the Commonwealth Games.

Now the 23-year-old plans to miss out on the whole indoor season to concentrate on the outdoor World Championships in Osaka in August 2007.

"It's too dangerous for me because of the heat," said the man who has three times run the world record mark of 9.77sec in the 100m.

Despite having run faster than any other man in history - except drug-tainted American Justin Gatlin who is likely to lose his share of the record - and having just been named athlete of the year, Powell has a big gap in his medal cabinet.
He has yet to win either a world or Olympic 100m medal.

In the 2003 worlds he was disqualified in the quarter-finals for a false start, at the 2004 Olympics he was a major let-down in finishing fifth and in last year's Helsinki worlds he pulled out injured before the tournament.

He is now more motivated than ever to land a big victory to eclipse his Commonwealths gold medal from March.
"Last year I already wanted it (to win the worlds). But I was injured after my world record in the 100m and I couldn't participate," said Powell.

"But now I will try to take it. I am happy with the way this season has gone. It was fantastic, even if I didn't achieve everything I set out to, notably beating the world record," he said.

"Even if there was no Olympics and no worlds, there were some great competitions," he said.

Powell may be out of the indoor season but instead he is thinking of doubling up and tackling the 200m as well next season, although he is not too keen.

"If the schedule allows it, I might try to double up, even though the 200m is not an event I enjoy. It hurts and there's four rounds in the 100m,"  he said.

Powell may not hold any global titles but he is the 2006 IAAF Athlete of the Year and also won a share of the Golden League jackpot.

He was presented with his latest gong in Monaco on Sunday night.

"It's a fantastic award and motivation," added Powell.

"In Jamaica, the people will be very happy. They're going to be excited to find out I've won this award," he said.