Reuters, Salvo, North Carolina, March 26: A sprint showdown between the world's fastest men, Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, appears unlikely until the world championships in South Korea in August.
'I don't think it is all that likely (before then),' Gay's agent Mark Wetmore told Reuters in a telephone interview.
'It is a little early to know for sure. It's still possible but there is not one planned at the moment.'
Jamaican Bolt has five European races scheduled ahead of the Aug. 27-Sept. 4 world championships in Daegu and his agent Ricky Simms is looking at two other possibilities including London.
Britain's tax laws, though, could keep Bolt out of the London Diamond League meeting on Aug. 5-6 just as they did in 2010.
While American Gay is expected to run in London again this year, Simms said he was concerned about the tax implications of an appearance by world record holder Bolt.
'The situation with London is a little more difficult with the taxes there,' Simms told Reuters. 'We would like to run there but it is outside of our control really.'
The UK system would tax not only Bolt's earnings at any race in London but also a proportion of his huge personal endorsements throughout the year, even though he does not reside in Britain.
'It is regrettable that two years out from our home Olympic Games that British sports fans are denied the chance to see this amazing talent in action,' UK Athletics said in a statement after Bolt decided not to run in the 2010 London Diamond League meeting.
'However, this is an issue facing all major sporting events in the UK and we are, along with a number of other sports, continuing to work towards a resolution.
'Football Champions League and the London 2012 Olympics have secured an exemption to this law and we would hope we can follow this precedent,' the statement read.
If Bolt and Gay do not meet ahead of Daegu there will be races this season involving one of them and former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica.
Powell and Bolt, for instance, will clash over 100 metres in the Rome Diamond League meeting on May 26.
Bolt is also due to compete in Oslo, Paris, Monaco and Ostrava.
Gay will run his first major 100 metres at the New York Diamond League meeting in June. His other races have not yet been announced.