EUGENE (Oregon), June 8: Former 100 metre world record holder Asafa Powell brushed aside questions on Saturday about Justin Gatlin's doping ban, saying the disgraced American is out of the sprinting picture for now.

“Justin is not the big thing anymore,” said Powell, of Jamaica. “He is not the focus now.”

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday rejected Gatlin's appeal of a four-year doping ban, tacking on an extra two months to the suspension which now ends on July 25, 2010.

Powell, who is in Eugene to watch the Prefontaine Classic track meet, said there was little point in even discussing the CAS decision.

“What news?” he said. “I have nothing to say about that. No comment.”—AFP