Bolt withdraws from Diamond League meet

LONDON - The Associated Press

Usain Bolt withdrew from his final race before the Olympics yesterday with what his coach called a “slight” injury problem following the Jamaican trials.

Bolt was scheduled to run the 200 meters at the Monaco Diamond League meet on July 20 but pulled out to have treatment ahead of the London Games.

Despite the withdrawal, Bolt said yesterday he would be in London to defend his titles.

The Olympic champion and world record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters had his right hamstring stretched out on the track after finishing second to Yohan Blake in the 200 at the Jamaican Olympic trials over the weekend. He also was beaten by Blake in the 100 meters in Kingston.

Bolt’s surprising losses to Blake suggested the superstar sprinter may not be in the dominant form he was at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he powered to gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay, all in world-record times.

“I will be in London to defend my titles in the 100, 200 and 4x100 meters,” Bolt said in the statement.