Sprint king Usain Bolt unfazed by Justin Gatlin return

Tyson Gay beats Usain Bolt in the 100m in Stockholm

Usain Bolt says he is happy to compete against Justin Gatlin, who has just returned from a four-year doping ban.

United States sprinter Gatlin was banned in 2006 after a positive test for testosterone.

Jamaican Bolt, the Olympic and world champion, told BBC Sport: "If he is there, I will run against him."

Gatlin, a 100m gold medallist in Athens in 2004, has always insisted that he has never knowingly taken a performance-enhancing substance.

He regained his eligibility to compete in July and has won both of his comeback races.

"He has done a bad thing but as I've said before if the IAAF can forgive, then why can't anyone else?" added Bolt.

"I hope he has learned his lesson and knows that he has to run clean and work hard now because he will get caught. I think the IAAF and the IOC [International Olympic Committee] are doing an extremely good job on clamping down on athletes who are trying to cheat the sport and are banning them.

"I'm fine with it because I don't make the decision or the rules. If they [IAAF] decide he has served his time and can run then I am cool with it."

Gatlin won the 100m and 200m sprint double at the 2005 World Championships to add to his 2004 Olympic 100m title but has been out of action since June 2006, although he still hopes to race at the 2012 Olympics in London against Bolt.

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"This is my job and if anyone tries to dethrone me or tries to beat me then I'm definitely going to be stepping up to the plate and competing against them no matter who they are and what they've done," continued Bolt.

Bolt has ruled out competing for the rest of 2010 after suffering a back injury. It has been an injury-plagued season for the Jamaican.

The 23-year-old suffered his first 100m final defeat in two years when he was easily beaten by Tyson Gay on 6 August at Stockholm's Diamond League meeting.

And Bolt admitted he has been short of his best form and fitness this season, with American Gay a deserving winner in the Swedish capital.

"Tyson is in better shape then me and has worked harder than me this year," stated Bolt, who became the highest paid athlete in track and field history after signing a new sponsorship deal with Puma.

"This year for me was my easy season, my laid back season. This was my season to not stress myself out and to give my body as much rest as possible, he was much more prepared then me and deserved to win and that is all I can say.

"I'm proud of him and he is really making the sport exciting."

Bolt added that losing his unbeaten record did not bother him and promised to be back to his best in 2011.

"The unbeaten record was not important to me, if it was then I would have really taken this season seriously and put the grind in," he admitted.

"For me my aim is always the championships and that is when I am at my best and that is my focus. I will be ready next year ."

Bolt is the current world record holder, running 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, and believes he can go even faster.

Tyson is a great fighter and works hard but I don't think he will break the world record this year

Usain Bolt

However, with the Jamaican not running again this season there is a danger that the in-form Gay could beat that time this year. But Bolt does not believe the 28-year-old can break his record in 2010.

"Tyson is a great fighter and works hard but I don't think he will break the world record this year," commented Bolt.

"He needs that extra push to break the world record because 9.5 is not a joke time to run. When I broke the record I had the push of Asafa [Powell] and Tyson and he will need a similar push.

"Tyson Gay is a great athlete and I wish him all the best, but if he breaks the world record then for me it's like whatever because my main aim is always the championships."

Bolt added: "I've said that the time can go to 9.4 and I hope to be the one to run it.

"That is why I really took this season light because I have been running 9.7 and 9.8 over the years and that is going to take its toll on your body. Just ask Asafa who has run a lot of sub 10 second races and it has taken its toll on his body.

"As you can see over the years it gets harder to run faster and you kind of need a year for your body to relax and rest, not to stress so much, and this was my year for that. I'll be ready when it's necessary."