I felt it was a joke: Usain Bolt

Jamaican Usain Bolt accuses rival Justin Gatlin of disrespect after American sprinter claims that Olympic 100m champ receives preferential treatment

London: Usain Bolt accused sprint rival Justin Gatlin of “disrespect” after proving his fitness for the Rio Olympics in emphatic fashion at the Muller Anniversary Games on Friday.

The six-time Olympic champion, making his first appearance since pulling out of the Jamaican trials with a hamstring strain, clocked 19.89 seconds to win over 200 metres, his first race over the distance this season.

The 29-year-old received a medical exemption to miss his trials, with Gatlin, his main rival for 100m gold in Rio, one of a number of United States sprinters who claimed he got preferential treatment he would not receive were he American.

“He’s injured, gets a medical pass, that’s what his country does. Our country doesn’t do that,” Gatlin was quoted as saying in the American press.

Bolt, who was hailed as the saviour of his sport after his 100m and 200m victories ahead of Gatlin at last year’s World Championships in Beijing, hit back by saying: “For me I felt it was a joke — I felt it was a disrespect they think I’d backed out of a trials. “I’ve proven myself year after year that I’m the greatest. I laughed when I heard it. I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin.”

Bolt was greeted with the customary roar of approval when introduced to the crowd.

Fans are accustomed to seeing Bolt fly clear of the field in the home straight in his favoured event, but there was little sign of that here, suggesting there is still way to go before he can live up to his pre-event boast that he could challenge his 200m record of 19.19secs in Rio.

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