Tyson Gay will not face his main rivals in London after withdrawing from the Grand Prix to avoid injury.

The world 100m champion was set to face Jamaica's Asafa Powell and 100m world record holder Usain Bolt at the Crystal Palace event on Friday but has pulled out over fears of a hamstring flare-up.

The sprinter has already experienced hamstring problems this month, losing his place in the Olympic 200m after a fall in the US trials.

In attending the last major event before the Beijing Olympics, the Crystal Palace crowd had been set to see the newly-crowned 100m world record holder Bolt up against current world champion Gay and former world record holder Powell.

But with an MRI having diagnosed a mild strain in Gay's semi tendinosus muscle, he and his management team have chosen to safeguard his chances of competing in Beijing through withdrawing from the London meet.

"I was really looking forward to getting back on the track again, and training has been going well," the world champion said.

"I held out hope to run London, but progress has been steady and with the first round of the Olympic 100 metres just three weeks away, I don't want to risk doing anything to set things back."

He added: "I apologise to the fans."

Gay is being treated by German surgeon Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt and is still scheduled to in the 100m and 4x100 relay in Beijing.
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