BEIJING - Just two days before the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, track and field’s most newsworthy star gave his take on the recent doping headlines that threaten to tear down the sport’s integrity. 

 

28-year-old Usain Bolt, who rose to prominence seven years ago in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing after winning double gold in the Bird’s Nest, on Thursday appeared out of character from his usual jubilant self in his return to Beijing as he discussed the darkest issue currently plaguing track and field.

 

“It’s really taking center stage, all I’ve been hearing over the past couple of weeks is just doping, doping, doping,” a gloomy Bolt told The Guardian. “It’s sad it’s at the forefront of a World Championships and not about the competition that’s coming up ahead.” 

 

The sprint superstar, who has been the face of track for the better part of a decade, was of course referencing a multitude of recent doping news on Thursday at his pre-Worlds press conference, including allegations that 1/3 of all medal winners in the endurance events at Olympic/World Championships from 2001-2012 were found to have suspicious blood levels, and in addition, that the IAAF did little to stop the spread of cheating. The governing body, for their part, has firmly denied the allegations.  

 

Bolt did not touch on that topic specifically, instead expressing frustration at the quantity of recent news creating a distraction from the present World Championships, where he will look to repeat as champion in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m.

 

Bolt gave his usual response to a question regarding his main rival for gold this week in Beijing, Justin Gatlin, who remains controversial as he continues to run unbelievable times in the 100/200 at the age of 33, all after serving two previous doping bans. Gatlin has not lost an individual race since September of 2013, the last time the two sprint heavyweights faced off. 

 

“The rules are there and the rules are there for a reason, if the rules say he can get banned and he can get back in the sport, I can’t really do anything about it,” Bolt said. 

 

Many have predicted that Gatlin will be the man to finally dethrone Bolt, as he has run PRs of 9.74 and 19.57 this season, while the double World record holder Bolt has only one decent performance, a 9.87 100 a month ago in London, to build on as he prepares to defend his titles. The Jamaican was forced to pull out of two Diamond League meets this summer with a leg injury, which prevented him from matching up with Gatlin leading into the Championships. 

 

Now recovered from that injury after seeking rehab in Germany, all while Gatlin continued to torch every field he faced, Bolt wasn’t ready to accept that he alone can bring track and field out from behind the dark shadows currently encompassing the sport. 

 

“There are a lot of other athletes running clean and have run clean throughout their career. It’s a responsibility of all athletes to show that they (can) save the sport. It’s not only on me but all the athletes.” 

 

The six-time Olympic champion and eight-time World champion Bolt will celebrate his 29th birthday on Friday, just one day before he is scheduled to line up in the rounds of the 100m.