ATHLETICS: TRIPLE OLYMPIC champion Usain Bolt powered away from a top-class field to win the 100 metres in 9.91 seconds at the London Grand Prix last night and then said he was a man on a mission for next month's world championships.
Having struggled with his start in the heat, the world record holder got away smoothly in the final and left the opposition trailing despite running into a strong headwind.
Compatriot Yohan Blake was second in 10.11 but former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica struggled and finished sixth with a time of 10.26.
“I feel really good about going to Berlin and I’m going there on a mission,” Bolt said. “I was ready for that race and I’m always ready to race. When I get to the start line I know what I’m there to do and I concentrate on that.”
Bolt (22) admitted he was saddened by the news that five fellow Jamaican athletes had tested positive for a banned substance. The athletes – four men and one woman – are not thought to be any of the Olympic medal winners from last summer’s Games in Beijing.
“I’m not sure who it is yet, I’m sure it’s not me so I’m not really worried,” Bolt said. “If it’s someone from my group I don’t know, I can’t comment.
“Definitely it’s sad to know there are still drugs (in the sport) but for me it doesn’t really matter, as long as I’m clean I’m just going forward.
“It’s sad for the sport because the sport was getting on so well, I was trying to bring it back. This is probably a step backwards because people start questioning everybody, especially from Jamaica.
“For me it doesn’t matter because I will be going out there, day after day, doing my best. I get tested all the time. It shows that people get tested and they get caught if they are on drugs.
“Sometimes you move forward and you take one step back. It’s hard but I’m trying my best to push the sport forward. I think after a while people will notice that you can’t get away with it and they’ll stop, but for now I guess we can’t do anything about it.”
IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said: “It’s very, very early in the process so we cannot say who they are or what the substance is.”
Davies added that he believes the issue will be resolved before the World Championships.
Jamaica’s Aleen Bailey, who competed in the women’s 200-metre event in London, was visibly shocked by the news.
“You never want anybody from your country or your team to be tested positive,” she said. “Hard work takes you a long way and if somebody cheats they deserve to be punished. But hopefully it’s not anything serious and it’s a mishap.”
