Usain Bolt talks exclusively to Reuters

Aug 25, 2015 In a recent interview, Usain Bolt expressed his trust in the new head of world athletics, Sebastian Coe and expressed hope that the new IAAF boss would take the necessary measures to eradicate doping from the sport.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has spent the three weeks leading up to the World Athletics Championships defending its record on doping, after a string of embarrassing leaks.

Sebastian Coe, who was recently elected as the body’s president, promised to set up an independent anti-doping body for the sport.

“It’s been a lot of doping in the headlines as you said over the last couple of months, it’s really sad that this is where the sport is right now…So hopefully, the new president can put into place a lot of change a lot of rules and make things easier for the sport to be better. So we will see what happens.” Bolt said

Bolt, who recently turned 29, recommended tougher regulations as the best approach to curb doping in the sport.

“It’s going to be hard to get rid of doping, I think. If you make harder rules, definitely less people will take a chance,” he said.

Bolt, has never failed a doping test and at the Beijing Olympics, he is set to go toe-to-toe with America’s Justin Gatlin, who has served two suspensions for using banned substances. The race has been billed as a battle for the soul of the sport.

“For me, I just see it as high stake race of two athletes who know to compete. For me, I never worried about because at the end of the day we are two athletes at the top of our games who have to compete. So, that is how I see it… I’m definitely in good shape, I’ve been training, I’ve definitely slimmed down a little bit more and everything has being going smoothly and I am in good shape,” the Jamaican said.

Bolt set the 100 meters world record of 9.58 seconds and 200m 19.19seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. While the Jamaican superstar might not be in his best of form, he believes the 9.69sec he ran to win Beijing might be within reach.

“For me, all championships, that’s what I aim for, to win three gold medals. That is always my aim come the championship. But to do it again in Beijing would be great. And to break the stadium record would be even better.”