Bolt and Farah under scrutiny

LONDON: Usain Bolt’s suspect hip and Mo Farah’s status as the golden boy of British athletics will come under scrutiny when both return to London’s Olympic stadium this weekend.

The two-day so-called Anniversary Games, which incorporates a Diamond League meeting, features a glittering cast but six-times Olympic gold medallist Bolt is the undoubted top of the bill when he goes in the 100m today. The world record holder has looked a long way from the unbeatable sprinter who elevated track and field above the murky waters of its dopestained past with stunning 100m/200m doubles at the Beijing and London Olympics.

This season though he is yet to dip below 10 seconds in the 100 and missed the recent Jamaican trials with a troublesome hip injury.

Bolt’s fitness, and speed will be closely monitored a month before the world championships in Beijing when American Justin Gatlin, on fire this season, will be itching to have a crack at him.

There will be no showdown in London, however, and a fit Bolt looks a strong favourite ahead of European record holder Jimmy Vicaut of France, who ran 9.86 seconds in Paris three weeks ago.

Farah has pledged his allegiance to his coach Alberto Salazar, who is being investigated by both USADA and UK Anti-Doping over allegations that he has violated doping rules and will run the 3 000m, also today.

Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill will be guaranteed a warm welcome as she competes in a variety of events, beginning tonight with the 100m hurdles.

Kenya’s Olympic champion David Rudisha, who broke the world record en route to 800, gold in the Stadium three years ago, lines up over the same distance while Britain’s Greg Rutherford. – Reuters