• Athletics

Bolt to snub London Grand Prix

ESPN staff
January 25, 2013
British fans will not see Usain Bolt in action at the London Grand Prix © Getty Images
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Usain Bolt will not return to London's Olympic Stadium this summer because of tax laws which cut into his earnings.

Were the Jamaican to race at the London Grand Prix on July 27, half his appearance fee would be taken by the taxman along with 10% of his global earnings.

At last summer's Olympics, where Bolt won gold in the 100, 200 and 4x100 metres, there was a tax amnesty.

On Thursday UK Athletics announced that the Olympic Stadium would host the London Grand Prix, part of the Diamond League series, instead of Crystal Palace.

The date of the July 27 meeting is significant as it will make it exactly one year on from the opening ceremony of London 2012. It also comes two weeks prior to the start of World Championships in Moscow where Bolt is confident of securing another hat-trick of medals.

Yet the 26-year-old's fine tuning will happen away from British shores and his manager Ricky Simms defended the decision, saying: "Would you run if it cost you a couple of million dollars?"

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