London: Usain Bolt will again fly the flag for drug-free athletics at this weekend's London Diamond League meeting after a news conference where the multi-titled Jamaican was bombarded with questions about the sport's latest doping scandals.
Any hopes Bolt had that his appearance in London would be a celebration of his Olympic glories in the same stadium 12 months ago were dispelled by the first question he faced on Thursday.
Bolt will race the 100m in Friday's Diamond League meeting and return on Saturday for a 4x100m relay yet the number one topic was the recent positive dope tests on his fellow Jamaicans Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson as well as American Tyson Gay, the fastest man over 100m this year.
"I think there are a lot of details that are still to be discussed, a lot of things that haven't been said so I'm just waiting to see what happens," Bolt told a packed room in a London hotel.
"In life things happen and people make mistakes but as an athlete you have to be very careful and aware, it's hard but that's why you have a team to have to help you out with these things," Bolt added, saying he had spoken briefly with former world record holder Powell and told him to 'stay strong'.
Asked if the public could trust him, Bolt rolled his eyes and set about his now familiar refrain. "I was hoping that question would come later in the day," he said. "How long have you been following me - since 2008 maybe? "If you were following me since 2002 you would know I've been doing phenomenal things since I was 15 and setting records all the time.
"I was made to inspire people and to run I was given a gift and that's what I do. I'm going to continue running and using my talent and help the sport. "I'm not going to stress about it (doping). I know I am clean and I just want to improve the sport and that is what I am going to do."
Comments
0 comment