Bolt: doping scandals ‘set us back’

LONDON >> Usain Bolt believes the recent doping scandals in sprinting hurt the sport and insists he’s running clean.

The world’s fastest man stopped short of condemning fellow Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson or American rival Tyson Gay, whose failed doping tests have left the sport in turmoil ahead of worlds.

“Definitely, it’s going to set us back a little bit,” Bolt said Thursday in London before a Diamond League meet — his first competition in the city since his three gold medals at last year’s Olympics. “But as a person, I can’t focus on this.”

Bolt said it won’t affect his preparations for the upcoming world championships In Moscow.

“I still have world championships, everyone is stepping up their game, so I have to really focus on that,” he said. “I am just trying to work hard, run fast and hopefully help people to forget what has happened and just move on.”

He’ll run the 100 meters Friday and 4x100 relay Saturday at the meet in London’s Olympic Stadium, which marks the one-year anniversary of the opening ceremony.

In his first public comments since news of the high-profile doping cases broke on July 14, Bolt promised that he won’t be the next sprint star to be embroiled in a scandal.

“I was made to inspire people and to run, and I was given the gift and that’s what I do,” the six-time Olympic champion said. “I am confident in myself and my team, the people I work with. And I know I am clean.

“So I’m just going to continue running, using my talent and just trying to improve the sport.”