• World Championships

Usain Bolt insists he is 'clean'

Asafa Powell poses with Usain Bolt © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Inspired Dasaolu set for Anniversary Games
  
• News: 'Shocked' Powell planning to return
  

Usain Bolt admitted the recent doping scandals in sprinting have damaged the image of the sport but insisted he was clean.

Tyson Gay and Bolt's compatriots Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are among several athletes to have recently failed drugs tests, with the World Championships in Moscow two weeks away.

"You have to be careful what you ingest but I'm not worried about it," Bolt said. "As a person I make sure I'm careful. You have to trust your team. You have to keep up to date all of the time. It's hard but that's why you have a team to help you out with this kind of thing."

He went on to say that his record from a young age was proof of his innocence. "I've been doing phenomenal things since I was 15 years old," he said. "I was the youngest person to win the world juniors. I ran the world junior record in 19.93 at the age of 18. World youth record at 17. I have broken every record there is to break in every event I have ever done. So I have proved myself since I was 15. Right now I am just living out my dream."

Bolt revealed that he has sent a text message of support to Powell, who tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrone at the Jamaican Championships in June, urging him "to stay strong". Powell has vowed to return to the track as soon as possible.

But with the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games coming up this weekend, Bolt feels he has a chance to start repairing the damage done in recent weeks, insisting that he is clean.

"It's going to set us back a bit," admitted Bolt. "I want to help people forget what has happened. I am clean. I don't think it was much of a surprise what's going on. But I think there are a lot of details left to be discussed. I'm just sitting and waiting now to see the results. There are a lot of things that haven't been said."

Back in London after defending all three of his Olympic gold medals last summer, Bolt is looking forward to getting another taste of the rapturous support that welcomed him every time he stepped onto the track in the Olympic Stadium.

"I enjoy competing in London, it's like competing in Jamaica - there's a lot of Jamaican support," he added. "They're here to support and it's always good to feel. I'll enjoy it and try to run as fast as possible. London is a great memory. For me it was a wonderful experience, the amount of people in the stadium.

"It's two weeks before the Championships. I can see exactly where I'm at, and what I need to work on going into the Championships.

"I've been training for the past three weeks and I've been doing a lot of work. I just need to see if I need to work on anything else."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd