Usain Bolt not worried to face in-form American sprinter Justin Gatlin at

The 20-year-old, originally from the British overseas territory of Anguilla but cleared to run for GB in June, registered a personal best and the third fastest 200m time in British history to claim an exciting success over Dedric Dukes and South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana.

In an interview with the IAAF Inside Athletics programme released on Tuesday, Bolt said curbing off-track activities as the years rolled by had been easy compared to having to watch his diet.

His start was slow and, in the semi-finals at least, he also slowed down before crossing the line, again in 9.87sec. It doesn’t help the sport in any way.

The only man never to be banned for doping offences among the five fastest ever 100m runners, Bolt has transcended athletics throughout his career. Bolt was still able to train – it was just that he was not quite as explosive out of the blocks as he wanted.

“It’s all good race experience for the Worlds Championships“. “It’s all of our responsibility”. “I felt a bit exhausted at the start and I didn’t feel that good”. “It simply takes one run to get to 9.7 so I’m not anxious about occasions”. Beijing is a month away, I am not really anxious about that, I try and take it a step at at time.

“He works so hard to get where he is for someone’s mistakes to be causing him problems”.

And when asked by ITV’s Good Morning Britain if he put all the accusations to one side, he said: “For sure, yes”.

The American is unbeaten in 29 races over 23 months but even he seems wary of what his Jamaican rival could do – warning that he expected a flying Bolt come Beijing.

“Justin Gatlin was before my time”.

“I really love this crowd and I enjoy competing here”, he said.

He refused to attend the pre-race press conferences for the Anniversary Games in order to avoid questions over the Salazar allegations.

Bolt, though, managed it and then some.

He did that by winning the 100m in 9.87s, edging American Rodgers by three-hundredths of a second, with Jamaican Kemar Bailey Cole third in 9.92s. At times I do get frustrated and mad. And the staggering thing about his performance was that there was still obvious room for improvement.

Six-time Olympic gold medallist Bolt has struggled for form this year, with injuries curtailing his progress, while Farah found himself at the centre of a media storm after doping allegations levelled at coach Alberto Salazar.

Christine Ohuruogu, who will be the defending champion in Beijing, finished fourth in the 400m in 51.00.

However, Guy Learmonth’s world championships hopes were left high and dry last night after he was left out of today’s 800 metres, ending his chances of going to China.

“I’ve come so far from the start of the season”. “I’m not saying it’s right what he did but it happened when I was first coming up through the sport”. “As long as I’m in great shape there will be no worries”.

Moline Georganne of USA looked well set to take the event until the final flight of hurdles where she surrendered the lead and had to settle for second place in her season’s best 54.24, with Cassandra Tate getting the bronze.

“If my coach isn’t anxious then I’m never anxious because he always finds a way to get me ready for the championships”, Bolt said. “Of course you’re going to want to support him as an athlete”. “Definitely”, he insisted with a laugh.