Usain Bolt won the 100m at the London Diamond League meet yesterday in 9.87s, his fastest time this season by a quarter of a second. Photo / AP
Usain Bolt won the 100m at the London Diamond League meet yesterday in 9.87s, his fastest time this season by a quarter of a second. Photo / AP
The sprint star’s return gives the Diamond League a boost after drug-tainted rivals have hogged the limelight.
Moments after denying he's the saviour of athletics, Usain Bolt delivered the line the world craves and the sport needs: "I just run fast and I do it clean."
While Bolt failing to run quickly is a major blow to the sport, it is nothing compared to the hypothetical situation in which he tests positive for drugs. He is adamant that moment will never arise.
As the six-time Olympic champion prepared to return to the scene of the three most recent golds at London's former Olympic Stadium yesterday, the global sprint scene he has taken to new heights teeters on a precipice.
Shorn of a Bolt in top form, the Jamaican's void has for two seasons been filled by American Justin Gatlin, an unrepentant two-time drugs cheat unbeaten in 23 races.
Behind Gatlin is Asafa Powell, who was banned for six months and has gone below 9.9s five times this season, Tyson Gay, banned for a year, and Mike Rodgers, banned for nine months.
This is a sport seriously struggling to maintain credibility and Bolt, the man who owns the three fastest 100m times in history, is angry.
"Throughout the years, you work hard and the sport is getting back a good reputation and then it slides back when other athletes decide that they want to do the wrong thing," he said. "It definitely does upset me, because everyone starts pointing fingers and speculating. It doesn't help the sport in any way. At times, I do get frustrated and angry."
The only man never to be banned for doping offences among the five fastest ever 100m runners, Bolt has transcended athletics throughout his career.
With his swagger, showmanship and, of course, scintillating performances, in many respects he has transcended the world of sport. So does he feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders to maintain the integrity of a sport that has been undermined by cheats?
"A lot of people say that, but it's not only me. All athletes have the right to try to help the sport, to keep the sport in a good light," he said. "It's all of our responsibility. I do my best. I just try to run fast and I do it clean.
"I really am not going to say I'm the only saviour of athletics. Hopefully, up-and-coming athletes can learn that I did it clean throughout the years and it's all about hard work and dedication."
Usain Bolt says he had "so much respect" for Tyson Gay until he heard his American rival had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Photo / Getty Images
Asked if victory for Gatlin at next month's world championships in Beijing would harm the sport, Bolt elicited laughter with his reply: "I'm not planning to lose so I can't really answer that."
The laidback giant then justified why he describes Gay as "the only person" he has a problem competing against, explaining that he "had so much respect" for his American rival before his drugs misdemeanours. Gatlin's offences, on the other hand, were committed "before my time".
"When you hear that someone is cheating, it really hurts as an athlete to know the person you really look up to is banned for drugs," Bolt said about Gay. "It really bothers me."
The boost in profile the Jamaican's presence gave London's Anniversary Games was in evidence last week, with standing-room only at the pre-event press conference.
As has become customary when Bolt is in town, supposedly professional members of the media resorted to taking selfies with the Jamaican, while obligatory questions were asked about Manchester United.
When he stood on the start line for the heats yesterday morning, though, Bolt had to do something he had not managed all season — successfully answer questions on the track.
He did that by winning the 100m in 9.87s, edging American Rodgers by three-hundredths of a second, with Jamaican Kemar Bailey Cole third in 9.92s.
It was easily Bolt's fastest time of the season, despite a poor start, and suggested he might not be slowing down as some thought.
His performance improved what had been an otherwise poor year in which he lurched from one sub-par performance to the next. His previous best 100m time this season was a modest 10.12s, while his best over 200m remains 20.13s.
Bolt developed a pelvic injury last month and was forced to pull out of two scheduled races in France. It has all been far from ideal preparation for the defence of his world titles next month.
He insists he has no concerns with six weeks to go until the world championships.
"If my coach [Glen Mills] isn't worried, then I'm never worried," said Bolt, ignoring comments Mills made last month that he was "very concerned" about preparations.
"He always finds a way to get me ready for the championships. I've been doing good in training and everything is going smoother. The one thing everybody knows is sometimes I struggle through the season. Sometimes it takes until the really big moment to get focused. I'm sure that when I get to the championships, I will always be ready."
But was Bolt worth the tax breaks for visiting athletes that British Chancellor George Osborne implemented solely to allow him to compete in London this weekend? "Definitely," he insisted with a laugh. The slow times have done nothing to knock his confidence.
