Bolt says he's clean
Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt insisted he was a "clean" athlete and that fans could trust him despite recent failed drugs test by Jamaica's sprint rival Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay.
"I was made to inspire people," Bolt told a London news conference on Thursday, ahead of his return to the Olympic track on Friday where he will run in the 100 metres at the Diamond League Anniversary Games.
"I was given a gift, I know I'm clean. For me it happens [failed dope tests], I'm not going to stress about it," added Bolt, the 100m and 200m world record holder.
Bolt's compatriot Powell, the former 100m world record holder, tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine at Jamaica's national trials last month and is still waiting to discover whether analysis of his 'B' sample confirms the original finding.
Meanwhile United States sprinter Gay also tested positive for the same stimulant in an out-of-competition test in May.
But Bolt, 27 next month, refused to condemn either of his rivals Thursday.
"There's a lot of details to be discussed, I'm just waiting to see what's going on," Bolt said.
"I spoke to Asafa, it's tough, it's hard. I spoke to him and told him to stay strong," said Bolt, who in London last year repeated his Beijing feat of winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m Olympic gold medals.
"In life you learn anything is possible. You have to be very careful as an athlete, there are a lot of things on the banned list."
Bolt has never failed a drugs test and most observers of athletics agree, such is his stellar reputation, that it would be a potentially terminal disaster for the sport if he did test positive for a banned substance.
Asked how track and field fans could "trust" him, Bolt replied: "How long have you been following Usain Bolt?
"If you've been following me since 2002 you know I've been doing phenomenal things since I was 15, I've broken every record there is to break. Right now I'm living out my dream. I've shown throughout the years I've always been great."
Comments