Usain Bolt on doping row

Defending champion Bolt, however, was greeted with whoops and the Jamaican was seen nodding his head along to some piped Bob Marley music at the start before steaming home in a very comfortable 9.96sec.

“Controversial US star Justin Gatlin underlined his status as gold medal favourite with the fastest time in the first round”.

“It’s really taken centre stage, all I’ve been hearing over the past couple of weeks is doping, doping, doping”, Bolt said.

“I just try to do what’s right by the rules of the IAAF, WADA and everybody”.

“For me, just being back here is exciting, just to be back in the country, just to be back among the people”, Bolt said.

“One thing I can say about Usain is that he is a gamer, he’s a showman, he’ll rise to the occasion when it’s time to do so”.

Usain Bolt insists there is still more to come from him after he cruised into the semi-finals of the 100m at the World Championships. “He raced slower in the first round, picked it up in the semis and crushed it in the final”.

In the second of three semifinals, Gatlin will face compatriot Mike Rodgers – another American to have served a doping ban – after the 30-year-old was second behind Bolt in 9.97.

On the eve of the IAAF world athletics championships in Beijing, the Olympic and world 100m champion says he is not anxious if his medical data is released.

The specter of doping has been hanging over athletics in the buildup to this competition following the release of blood tests which suggest many medal winners in the past decade have come from competitors with “suspicious” results.

Gatlin was greeted by some boos ahead of his heat, but seemed to be in good company.

Salazar has denied all the accusations and Farah, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, has vowed to stick by his coach unless any allegations are proven. Salazar has denied the claims and produced a lengthy rebuttal to them.

—His goatee will stay for the worlds. Meanwhile, Bolt left the Bird’s Nest to prepare for a return in less than 24 hours, and everyone is expecting him to be better.

At a press conference in China, the 100m and 200m world-record holder was asked for his thoughts about UK athletes, such as Mo Farah, who had released their personal blood data in an unprecedented move of transparency.

NBC and NBC Sports Live Extra will have World Championships coverage Saturday from 3-4:30 p.m. ET and on Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m. ET.

“It’s not only on me because I can’t do it myself…”

“It means a lot because there’s sometimes certain things that happen out of your control. It’s sad. I can’t do anything about it”.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ghirmay Ghebreslassie became the youngest victor of the men’s marathon and the first Eritrean athlete to win a gold medal.

Although the Jamaican’s 200m world record of 19.19 is some way off, the callow Japanese sprinter can only benefit from rubbing shoulders with track’s speed kings.

“I’m in great form and I’m ready to go”, said Bolt while eyeing the win. There is no good runner or bad runner. Today’s victory will be a great surprise for them. “I haven’t run a lot of races, but running through the rounds I will get there”.

In the men’s shot put, Germany’s David Storl will be aiming for a hat-trick of world titles, although American champion Joe Kovacs looks a formidable obstacle having heaved a season-best 22.56 metres in Monaco recently.