MONTE CARLO (Monaco), Sept 27: Asafa Powell’s world record of 9.74sec in the 100 metres was ratified on Thursday by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).

Powell set the record at a meet in Rieti, Italy, on Sept 9 in the second of two heats. In the final, Powell won in 9.78sec. Powell also held the previous record of 9.77sec, which he ran three times.

Justin Gatlin matched 9.77sec in May 2006, but the American faces a suspension of up to eight years following a positive doping test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays a month earlier. Powell finished third in the 100 last month at the world athletics championships in Osaka, Japan.—AP