BERLIN (AP):

The Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) withdrew its request to ban sprint star Asafa Powell and several teammates from the World Championships yesterday, just hours after saying they would be kicked off the team in a dispute over training camp attendance.

IAAF Secretary General Pierre Weiss said the world governing body put pressure on the Jamaican federation to change its mind because the exclusion of the six prominent athletes would reflect badly on the championship itself.

"We asked Jamaica to reconsider in the interest of sport," Weiss said.

Missed camp

The Jamaican federation has been in a dispute with the athletes after they missed a mandatory training camp for the Worlds last week, and said similar issues have plagued the team in recent years.

JAAA officials said after reversing the decision that the athletes could face possible sanctions after the championships instead.

The Worlds begin Saturday with a programme that includes the opening heat of the 100 metres, where Powell is a medal contender behind fellow Jamaican and Olympic champion Usain Bolt and defending world champion Tyson Gay.

"We are all relieved to have that news," said Paul Doyle, the manager of five of the athletes. "It was all very unnecessary."

The decision ended a tumultuous day at the IAAF Congress, where the initial announcement that Powell, Olympic champions Melaine Walker and Shelly-Ann Fraser and three others would be excluded created an uproar.

"We didn't like it," Weiss said, adding that it was the IAAF's job to make sure nations field as strong teams as possible. "The World Championships, that is our baby. We take care of our baby."

The controversy stems from the athletes' decision to skip a training camp for the Worlds last week in Nuremberg.

Own preparations

Doyle said his athletes had already set up their own preparations in Italy by the time they were notified of the training camp.

"None of us received official notice it was supposed to be mandatory," Doyle said. "It was not fair to treat the athletes this way."

Jamaica's technical director, Don Quarrie, said training camp attendance has been an issue for years and that the federation was only asking for basic cooperation from the athletes.

The other three athletes involved in the dispute are hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton, sprinter Shericka Williams and 400 runner Kaliese Spencer.