Usain Bolt’s suspect hip and Mo Farah’s status as the golden boy of British athletics will come under scrutiny when both return to London’s Olympic stadium this weekend.
The two-day so-called Anniversary Games, which incorporates a Diamond League meeting, features a glittering cast but six-times Olympic gold medallist Bolt is the undoubted top of the bill when he goes in the 100m today.
The world record holder has looked a long way from the unbeatable sprinter who elevated track and field above the murky waters of its dope-stained past with stunning 100m/200m doubles at the Beijing and London Olympics.
This season though he is yet to dip below 10 seconds in the 100 and missed the recent Jamaican trials with a troublesome hip injury.
Bolt’s fitness, and speed will be closely monitored a month before the world championships in Beijing when American Justin Gatlin, on fire this season, will be itching to have a crack at him.
There will be no showdown in London, however, and a fit Bolt looks a strong favourite ahead of European record holder Jimmy Vicaut of France, who ran 9.86 seconds in Paris three weeks ago, and American Mike Rodgers.
With twice-banned Gatlin causing a stir in the athletics world, a sharp 100m by Bolt would be a timely PR boost for a sport still mired in suspicion.