Usain Bolt has revealed his shock at the recent drugs scandal that has engulfed athletics and insists he is clean ahead of next month’s World Championships.
After it finally appeared as if the majority of competitors had agreed to comply with the rules, a number of high-profile athletes have returned positive tests in recent months, most notably Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay.
American Gay had previously ran the fastest time in the world this year but withdrew from the upcoming Championships in Moscow after testing positive for a banned stimulant while former 100m world record holder Powell has been temporarily suspended for a similar offence.
Both men of course deny any wrongdoing but with Yohan Blake also out injured, it now looks as if Bolt is almost guaranteed to win another sprint double during August’s showpiece at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The Jamaican himself is no stranger to facing questions about the legality of his achievements, but has never returned a positive test and always insisted that he has been playing by the rules.
The 26-year-old admits he has been shocked by the recent revelations surrounding some of his biggest rivals but has reassured his fans that he is clean and is only focused on the World Championships.
“It’s going to set us back a little bit but as a person I can’t really focus on this,” Bolt said. “I have the World Championships ahead of me and people are stepping up their game so I have to really focus on that.
“I was made to inspire people and to run. I have confidence in myself and my team. I know I’m clean so I’m just going to continue running and try to improve the sport. That’s my aim.”
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