Sprinters headline Diamond League

Head-to-head duels between sprint stars Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell will headline the new IAAF Diamond League series next year.

The world's three fastest 100 metre performers in history have been contracted to compete in at least seven of the 14 events in the Diamond League, the successor to the Golden League which offers prize money of $US6.63million.

Doha will stage the first meeting on May 14 and before the league concludes in Brussels on August 27 every venue will enjoy the presence of at least one of the top trio over 100 or 200m.

"Many of the meetings will have two of them in action and a lucky few will have the three fastest men on show," read an IAAF statement.

Britain will host two meetings, in Gateshead on July 10 and in London from August 13-14.

The IAAF is hoping meaningful rivalries will attract spectators back to the sport, which has suffered from a decline in popularity.

Other world stars such as Kenenisa Bekele, Steve Hooker, Yelena Isinbayeva, Sanya Richards, Andreas Thorkildsen and Blanka Vlasic have also committed themselves to the series, which will feature 32 disciplines.

Competitors in each event will accumulate points and the top scorer after Brussels will receive a diamond-studded trophy. Substantial prize money can also be earned throughout the season.

Organisers plan announcing a full list of who will be competing at the various locations, with the first scheduled to be released early in 2010.