Bronze medalists (L - R) Nobuharu Asahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Naoki Tsukahara of Japan pose during the medal ceremony for the men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (CHINA)

Bronze medalists (L - R) Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan pose during the medal ceremony for the men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (CHINA)

Bronze medalists (L - R) Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan pose during the medal ceremony for the men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (CHINA)

Bronze medalists (L - R) Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan pose during the medal ceremony for the men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (CHINA)

Bronze medalists (L ?R) Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan pose during the medal ceremony for the men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (CHINA)

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA)

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (7) crosses the finish line ahead of Martin Keller of Germany in their men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (CHINA) 

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu and Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay (CHINA)

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (CHINA)

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (CHINA)

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (CHINA)

Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (CHINA) 

Shinji Takahira and Nobuharu Asahara of Japan celebrate finishing in third position in the men's 4x100m relay athletics final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (CHINA) 

Asafa Powell of Jamaica crosses the finish line to win their men's 4 x 100m relay final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 22, 2008. Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (L) and Pierre Browne of Canada (R) are seen with Powell. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (CHINA)

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (L), Caimin Douglas of the Netherlands (C) and Sandro Viana of Brazil race toward the finish line of their men's 4 x 100m relay heat of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 21, 2008. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (CHINA)

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (L) and Tobias Benjamin Unger of Germany run in their men's 100m heat during the athletics competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (L) and Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago compete in the men's 100m heat at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Phil Noble (CHINA)

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (R) finishes in front of Ghyd-Kermeliss-Holly Olonghot of Congo in their men's 100m heat at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (CHINA)

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara competes in the men's 100m event at the Melbourne Athletics Grand Prix February 21, 2008. REUTERS/Mick Tsikas (AUSTRALIA) 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara (L), Jamaica's Asafa Powell (C) and Australia's Matt Shirvington (R) compete in the men's 100m event at the Melbourne Athletics Grand Prix February 21, 2008. REUTERS/Mick Tsikas (AUSTRALIA) 

Tyson Gay of the U.S. reacts after crossing the finish line in the men's 100 metres final at the Super Track and Field meet in Yokohama September 30, 2007. Nobuharu Asahara of Japan is seen on left. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN) 

Tyson Gay (C) of the U.S., Naoki Tsukahara (L) and Nobuharu Asahara of Japan pose after the men's 100 metres final at the Super Track and Field meet in Yokohama September 30, 2007. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN) 

Tyson Gay (C) of the U.S. and Nobuharu Asahara (L) and Naoki Tsukahara of Japan compete in the men's 100 metres final at the Super Track and Field meet in Yokohama September 30, 2007. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN) 

Britain's Mark Lewis-Francis (R) crosses the finish line ahead of Japan's Nobuharu Asahara (C) and Germany's Julien Reus (L) to finish in third place in the men's 4x100 metres relay final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, September 1, 2007. REUTERS/Michael Dalder (JAPAN) 

(L-R) Nobuharu Asahara of Japan, Mark Lewis-Francis of Britain, Sandro Viana of Brazil and Asafa Powell of Jamaica cross the finish line after Leroy Dixon of the U.S. in the 4x100 metre relay final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka September 1, 2007. REUTERS/David Gray (JAPAN) 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara celebrates after the men's 4X100 metres relay heats at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka August 31, 2007. REUTERS/David Gray (JAPAN) 

Kim Collins (R) of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Nobuharu Asahara (C) of Japan and Asafa Powell of Jamaica compete during the men's 100 metres semi-final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka August 26, 2007. REUTERS/David Gray (JAPAN) 

Nobuharu Asahara (729) of Japan competes during the heats of the men's 100 metres race at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka August 25, 2007. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich (JAPAN) 

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan runs during the men's 100 metres quarter-final event at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka August 25, 2007. REUTERS/David Gray (JAPAN) 

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan reacts after winning the first heat of the men's 100 metres race at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka August 25, 2007. REUTERS/David Gray (JAPAN) 

Japan's Asahara, China's Guo Fan, Pakistan's Imran, Kazakhstan's Muravyev and Saudi Arabia's Yahya compete during 100m Men semi-finals heat one on the first day in Inchon. (L-R) Japan's Nobuharu Asahara, China's Guo Fan, Pakistan's Muhammad Imran, Kazakhstan's Vyacheslav Muravyev and Saudi Arabia's Alghes Yahya compete during the 100m Men semi-finals heat one on the first day of the Asian Athletics Championships in Inchon, South Korea, September 1, 2005 REUTERS/Nicky Loh 

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan competes during the fourth heat of the men's 100 metres event at the world athletics championship in Helsinki August 6, 2005. 

Zakari of Ghana, Gatlin of US and Asahara of Japan compete in first heat of 100 metres men's quarter-finals at world athletics championships in Helsinki. (L to R) Aziz Zakari of Ghana, Justin Gatlin of the U.S. and Nobuharu Asahara of Japan compete in the first heat of the 100 metres men's quarter-finals at the world athletics championships in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn 

Gatlin of US, Lewis-Francis of Britain, Asahara of Japan, Ross of Australia and Leigh of South Africa leave blocks in men's 100 metres in Helsinki. Justin Gatlin of the U.S. (2nd R), Mark Lewis-Francis of Britain (R), Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (C), Joshua Ross of Australia (L) and Julius Leigh of South Africa (2nd L) leave the blocks in their fourth heat of the men's 100 metres at the world athletics championships in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich 

Asahara of Japan competes during the fourth heat of the men's 100 metres event at the world athletics championship in Helsinki. Nobuharu Asahara of Japan competes during the fourth heat of the men's 100 metres event at the world athletics championship in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Charles Platiau 

Asahara of Japan, Gatlin of the US and Lewis-Francis of Britain compete during the men's 100 metres heats in Helsinki. (L to R) Nobuharu Asahara of Japan, Justin Gatlin of the U.S. and Mark Lewis-Francis of Britain compete during the fourth heat of the men's 100 metres event at the world athletics championship in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

Asahara of Japan, Gatlin of the US and Lewis-Francis of Britain compete during the men's 100 metres heats in Helsinki. (L to R) Nobuharu Asahara of Japan, Justin Gatlin of the U.S. and Mark Lewis-Francis of Britain compete during the fourth heat of the men's 100 metres event at the world athletics championship in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn 

Justin Gatlin of the U.S. (2nd R) runs past Mark Lewis-Francis of Britain (R), Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (C) Joshua Ross of Australia (2nd L) and Julius Leigh of South Africa (L) to go on to win a heat in the men's 100 metres at the world athletics championships in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach KP/PEK/KS 

Asahara of Japan, Gatlin of the US and Lewis-Francis of Britain compete during the men's 100 metres heats in Helsinki. (L to R) Nobuharu Asahara of Japan, Justin Gatlin of the U.S. and Mark Lewis-Francis of Britain compete during the fourth heat of the men's 100 metres event at the world athletics championship in Helsinki August 6, 2005. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

Japan's relay team chat after running in a heat of the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Japan's relay team (L-R) Shingo Suetsugu, Hiroyasu Tsuchie, Nobuharu Asahara and Shinji Takahira chat after running in a heat of the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 27, 2004. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn 

Germany's Till Helmke (L) and Japan's Nobuharu Asahara run during the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 27, 2004. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn MD/AA 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara receives the baton from team mate Shinji Takahira during a heat of the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Japan's Nobuharu Asahara (L) receives the baton from team mate Shinji Takahira during a heat of the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 27, 2004. REUTERS/Jason Reed 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara receives the baton from team mate Shinji Takahira during a heat of the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Japan's Nobuharu Asahara (L) receives the baton from team mate Shinji Takahira during a heat of the men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 27, 2004. REUTERS/Jason Reed 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara runs during heat six of the men's 100 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games August 21, 2004. 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara runs during heat six of the men's 100 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 21, 2004. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn CP 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara starts heat six of the men's 100 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 21, 2004. REUTERS/Mike Blake CP/DL 

Japan's Nobuharu Asahara looks at score board after his Men's 100 metres semi-final heat at the 9th World Athletics Championships in the Stade de France at Saint-Denis near Paris August 25, 2003. Asahara failed to qualify for the final. 

Men's 100 metres world record holder sprinter Tim Montgomery (R) of the
United States poses with Japanese 400 metres hurdles record holder Dai
Tamesue (2nd R), Japanese sprinter Nobuharu Asahara (3rd R), Japanese
hammer throw record holder Koji Murofushi (L), and hammer throw world
No.1 Adrian Annush of Hungary at a hotel in Osaka, western Japan May 9,
2003. The athletes are in Japan to compete at the IAAF Japan Grand Prix
2003 track and field meet on May 10, 2003. REUTERS/Issei Kato

IK 

Men's 100 metres world record holder Tim Montgomery (R) of the United
States with Japanese sprinter Nobuharu Asahara speaks during a news
conference at a hotel in Osaka, western Japan May 9, 2003. Montgomery
is in Japan to compete in the IAAF Japan Grand Prix 2003 track and
field meet on May 10. REUTERS/Issei Kato

IK/DL 

(R-L) Yunbao Shen of China, Jamal Al Safaar of Saudi Arabia, Nobuharu
Asahara of Japan and Gennadiy Chernovol of Kazakhstan cross the finish
line in the men's 100m final at the 14th Asian Games in Pusan October
8, 2002. Al Safaar won the gold medal with a time of 10.24 seconds and
Asahara won silver with a time of 10.29 seconds. REUTERS/Kim
Kyung-Hoon

KKH/JS 

Jamal Al Safaar (R) of Saudi Arabia, Nobuharu Asahara of Japan (C) and
Gennadiy Chernovol of Kazakhstan cross the finish line in the men's
100m final at the 14th Asian Games in Pusan October 8, 2002. Al Safaar
won the gold medal with a time of 10.24 seconds and Nobuhary won the
silver with a time of 10.29 seconds. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

KKH/JS 

Bernard Williams (L) of the United States edges out compatriot Maurice
Green (C) and Nobuharu Asahara (R) of Japan to win the men's 100-metre
final at the Super Track and Field meet 2002 in Yokohama, south of
Tokyo September 16, 2002. Williams clocked 10.21 seconds to win the
race. Green finished in a disappointing fifth place in 10.56 seconds.
Asahara placed second in 10.28 seconds. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama

KM/RCS 

Shawn Crawford (R) of the United States races with Nobuharu Asahara (C)
of Japan and Frankie Fredericks of Nambia during the men's 100-metre
final at the Super Track and Field Meet 2001 at International Stadium
Yokohama September 15, 2001. Crawford won the race in 10.17 seconds.
Asahara was second in 10.18seconds and Fredericks finished third in
10.23 seconds. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama

KM/RCS 

Brazil's Claudinei Quirino Da Silva (R) runs to the finish with the
baton ahead of Japan's Nobuharu Asahara during the men's 4X100 meter
relay semifinal qualifier at the World Championships in Athletics, in
Edmonton August 12, 2001. Brazil finished first in the heat with a time
of 38.23 seconds and Japan came in second in time of 38.54.

MMR/HB 

Nobuharu Asahara of Japan sprints down his lane in the men's 100 meter
qualifier at the World Championships in Athletics, in Edmonton August
4, 2001. Asahara finished first in the heat with a time of 10.25
seconds.

MMR/HB 

Nobuharu Asahara (30) of Japan leads during the men's 100-metre heat of the 3rd East Asian Games in Osaka, western Japan May 23, 2001. Asahara clocked 10.39 seconds to advance to the final. To Wai Lok (left) of Hong Kong clocked 10.79 seconds and Lei Pak Lim of Macao (right), 11.17 seconds.

KM/CC 

Olympic gold medalist sprinter Maurice Greene (L) of the USA smiles for photographers with compatriot women's pole vault world champion Stacy Dragila; Japanese hammer throw record holder Koji Murofushi(3rd L); and Japanese sprinter Nobuharu Asahara (R) at a hotel in Osaka, western Japan May 11, 2001. The athletes are in Japan to compete at the IAAF Japan Grand Prix on May 12, 2001.

ES/CC