Bolt returns to London

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt London - Arab Today Usain Bolt will aim to restore sprinting's battered reputation when the Jamaican star returns to London's Olympic Stadium for the Anniversary Games. Bolt, scheduled to appear on Friday and Saturday, returns to the arena where he retained his Olympics 100 metres crown, while also claiming gold medals in the 200m and the 4x100m relay. He insists he is a clean athlete despite recent failed drugs test by the Jamaican's sprint rivals Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay. "I was made to inspire people. 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," the 100m and 200m world record holder told a news conference on Thursday. Asked how dejected athletics fans could "trust" him, Bolt replied: "How long have you been following Usain Bolt? "2008? 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." Bolt, while praising the team around him, acknowledged his own duty in complying with the rules. "I have a great team around me. They make sure everything goes smoothly but I am also careful myself. "I get tested all the while. I got tested the day before yesterday (Tuesday), it's just part of the routine. I'm clean. "Every athlete takes vitamins, I don't really take supplements." Bolt, in London this week as part of his preparations for next month's World Championships in Moscow, said. "Hopefully we can move past this... it's definitely going to set us back a bit as a sport." Having failed to live up to his fastest man on the planet tag so far this year, the sprinter will want a quick time at the Anniversary Games, being held in Stratford to mark one year since the London Olympics. He will also use the latest of the Diamond League meetings to fine-tune his preparations for next month's World Championships in Moscow. But, just as significantly, the absence of Gay and Powell, as they await the potential punishment over their recent drugs controversy, means athletics needs Bolt to deliver a memorable performance for the good of the sport. Gay, the 30-year-old American who is the fastest man in the world this year, tested positive for a banned substance and immediately withdrew from the World Championships. Jamaica's Powell, a former 100m world record holder, confirmed that he had tested positive for a banned stimulant at his country's national trials for Moscow, but denies any wrong-doing. Despite the absence of Gay and Powell, six-time Olympic champion Bolt will come up against two runners who have gone faster than him this year. Fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter and Britain's James Dasaolu will keep Bolt well and truly on his toes. Veterans Kim Collins and Dwain Chambers will try and keep pace with Bolt as will young guns Christophe Lemaitre and Rakieem Salaamit. Bolt, who is also running in the 4x100 relay, has already lost to American veteran Justin Gatlin in Rome this year and is not expected to beat his Berlin 2009 world record of 9.58. But such is Bolt's box office power that the 120,000 tickets for the first two days of the Anniversary Games sold out in 75 minutes and within 24 hours the third day of action featuring Paralympic stars had gone too. Source: AFP