Bolt to seek treatment in Germany or France

By Kayon Raynor 

Manager of Jamaica’s athletics team to the Rio Olympics, Ludlow Watts, on Saturday said Usain Bolt is still in contention to the compete in the 200 metres at next month’s Games from August 5-21, despite concerns the world record holder would miss out, having not run the event so far this season and being ruled out of the half lap event at the Jamaica Senior Championships.

Bolt submitted a medical exemption due to a hamstring injury prior to the 100m final on Friday.

But pointing to the selection policy of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Watts told RJR Sports, “The rules say, if you’re ranked in the top three in the world, whether by ranking or time, it can be ranking or fastest time, and you’re unavailable because of medical reasons as confirmed by the JAAA medical panel and if after you have recovered and you regain your pre-injury form, you may be considered for reinstatement in the event, provided that is done before the qualifying final entry date,” Watts said via telephone in Kingston.

The veteran sports administrator, who managed the athletics teams to Beijing 2008 and London 2012, added that the JAAA’s selection panel will meet early next week to deal with all matters.

President of the Jamaica Olympic Association told Mike Fennell told Reuters he expects to receive the team from the JAAA within the next seven days.

“The deadline for entries is set for Thursday of next week because we have to meet a deadline in Brazil by early the following week,” Fennel said, noting that athletes can be entered, withdrawn and substituted based on the IAAF rules and the games rules.

Watts also indicated that final entries can be made up to early August.

The IAAF’s qualification period for the 2016 Olympic Games run from May 1, 2015 to June 11, 2016. Bolt’s best time in that period is 19.55 done on August 27, 2015 to secure gold at the Beijing World Championships. It is the fastest time by any athlete within the period.

Bolt, who Friday night confirmed he suffered a "grade 1 tear" to his hamstring via his Facebook page, will be heading to Europe on Sunday to see his doctor and continue the healing process, according to his management team.

The double sprint world record holder and his team will be flying to Europe to see his German doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt, who is now at France at the Euro 2016 Football Tournament with the German national team.

Depending on whether Germany get past Italy in Saturday afternoon's quarter-final at 2:00pm (Jamaica time), the 11-time world champion will see Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt in France or Germany.

On Friday night, Bolt statement on his official Facebook account indicated he would "seek treatment immediately and hope to show fitness at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio."