Injured Tyson Gay Pulls Out of London GP

LONDON -- Sprinter Tyson Gay withdrew from the London Grand Prix on
Wednesday, insisting the hamstring he injured at the U.S. Olympic
trials won't rule him out of next month's Beijing Games.

Gay was
due to race against Jamaica's former world record-holder Asafa Powell
in the 100 meters on Friday but said he wasn't taking any risks on the
left leg.

"I was really looking forward to getting back on the
track again, and training has been going well," said Gay, who was
undergoing treatment in Germany. "I held out hope to run London, but
progress has been steady and with the first round of the Olympic 100
meters just three weeks away, I don't want to risk doing anything to
set things back."

Doctors on Wednesday assessed Monday's MRI,
which showed a mild strain in the semi tendinosus muscle, and said it
was healing well.

"The decision does not affect Gay's plans for
Beijing, by which time he is expected to be fully recovered," Gay's
agent Mark Wetmore said.

Gay had already qualified for the 100
when he sprained a muscle in the back of his left leg in the 200 at the
trials, a tumble that forced him to be carted off the track and ended
his chances of winning two individual gold medals in Beijing.

He will also race in the Olympic 400-meter relay.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press