LONDON, July 25: Usain Bolt will aim to restore sprinting's battered reputation when the Jamaican star returns to London's Olympic Stadium for the Anniversary Games.
Bolt returns to the arena where he retained his Olympics 100 metres crown, while also claiming gold medals in the 200m and the 4x100m relay.
Bolt will run the 100 metres on Friday in the final event of the night (2048GMT) and return on Saturday as part of a Jamaican 4x100m relay squad.
Having failed to live up to his fastest man on the planet tag so far this year, Bolt will want a quick time at the Anniversary Games, being held in Stratford to mark one year since the London Olympics.
He will also use the latest of the Diamond League meetings to fine-tune his preparations for next month's World Championships in Moscow.
But, just as significantly, the absence of Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, as they await the potential punishment over their recent drugs controversy, means athletics needs Bolt to deliver a memorable performance for the good of the sport.
“Definitely it's going to set us back a little bit,” Bolt said at his news conference on Thursday. “But as a person I can't focus on this.
“I still have world championships, everyone is stepping up their game so I have to really focus on that. ... I am just trying to work hard, run fast and hopefully help people to forget what has happened, and just move on.”
Bolt is long used to his role as his sport's beacon of hope and with every failed test his position becomes more important to athletics' credibility.
“I was made to inspire people and to run I was given a gift and that's what I do. I'm going to continue running and using my talent and help the sport,” he said.
Despite the absence of Gay and Powell, six-time Olympic champion Bolt will come up against two runners who have gone faster than him this year. Fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter and Britain's James Dasaolu will keep Bolt well and truly on his toes.
Compared to 12 months ago, there will be considerably fewer sets of eyes will be focused on the likes of Bolt and British heroes Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill when they attempt to warm up for Moscow with confident, morale-lifting displays.
But nine Olympic champions and four world record holders are due to take part in a two-day Diamond League meeting and Farah, the 5000m and 10000m Olympic gold medallist, is certain to take a leading role once more.
This time, however, he has opted to run in the 3000m on Saturday.
Farah is in sparkling form having just broken Steve Cram's 28-year-old British 1500m record. He clocked three minutes 28.81 seconds when finishing behind Kenya's Asben Kiprop.
Ennis-Hill hopes to defy her recent worrying ankle injury to run in the 100m hurdles on Saturday as she also warms up for a crack at the World Championships.
The Olympic heptathlon champion made her first appearance of the season at a low key even in Loughborough this week, throwing 48.33m in the javelin and winning the long jump with 6.26m.—Agencies