Sports Shorts: Olympic high jumper Mason dies in motorbike crash

A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday

High jump star Germaine Mason died in a motorbike crash outside Jamaica's capital early on Thursday, police said, an announcement that prompted tributes to the British Olympic silver medalist from across the world of athletics.

School friend and sprint medalist Michael Frater told Reuters he went to the scene after hearing about the accident, and waited there until an ambulance arrived.

“I’m just devastated at the news, he was a friend from high school days ... still can’t believe this,” said Frater, who once shared an apartment with Jamaican-born Mason in Kingston.

Mason was driving a motorbike on the main road connecting Kingston with Jamaica's international airport at around 4.20 a.m. (0920 GMT), police said.

"He allegedly lost control and fell from the motorcycle. The police were summoned and Mason was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead,” the Jamaica Constabulary Force added in a statement.

Mason died aged 34, still holding the 2.34-metre Jamaican high jump record he set in 2003. He started competing for Britain in 2006 and won silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Devastated by news of the death of @GermaineMasonHJ 2008 Beijing Olympics Silver Medal winner High Jump 2.34m.Jamaican record holder. RIP,” tweeted @MVPTrackClub, headed by Stephen Francis who coached him.

British sprinter James Ellington, who survived a motor cycle crash in Spain in January, tweeted “Can't believe the news I have just heard about Germaine Mason."

Athletics: Blow for Jamaica as Powell withdraws from Jamaican World Relays

Olympic and double world sprint relay gold medallist Asafa Powell has withdrawn from Jamaica's team for this weekend's third IAAF World Relays event in the Bahamas.

The team's technical leader, Maurice Wilson, confirmed to Reuters by phone on Thursday that Powell -- twice world 100m bronze medallist -- was among three athletes to pull out of the team currently heading for the Bahamas.

“I’ve been informed that Asafa Powell is not available; Julian Forte is also not available; Rusheen McDonald is also out. Those are experienced athletes that would make a big difference to the composition of the team,” Wilson said.

Powell’s absence is a huge blow to the Jamaican team,who are already without eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, who did not make himself available.

Powell’s publicist, Tara Playfair-Scott, told Reuters on Thursday that the 34-year-old's decision to withdraw was strategic.

“He’s training. We're just being very selective in what he runs, because he has Doha (Diamond League meet) next week,” she said.

“To do World Relays and Doha, to come back to do all of the other stuff ... we want to do as limited amount (of races) as possible and just focus on the bigger ones,” Playfair-Scott added.

Tottenham under-23 coach Ehiogu collapses at training ground

Former England midfielder Ugo Ehiogu was rushed to hospital after collapsing at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground on Thursday, the club confirmed.

The 44-year-old, who works as Tottenham's under-23s coach, was treated by medical staff before being taken away by ambulance.

"We can confirm that Ugo Ehiogu is currently in hospital after collapsing at our training centre earlier today," the Premier League club said in a statement.

"He received immediate treatment on site from our medical staff before being transferred to hospital by ambulance.

"Everyone at the club sends their best wishes to Ugo and his family. We shall continue to provide updates when we have further information."

Ehiogu, who spent most of his career at Aston Villa where he won the League Cup in 1996, gained four England caps.

As well as playing more than 300 times for Villa, London-born Ehiogu played more than 100 times for Middlesbrough after signing for them in 2000.

He joined Tottenham's coaching staff in 2014.

Tottenham's first-team players were training at the Enfield centre on Thursday ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea although it is unclear whether any witnessed the incident.