Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt said on Thursday (21st July) that he would backed the decision to ban Russia's track and field athletes from the Rio Olympics, but refused to be drawn on whether the entire Russian team should be banned from attending the Games.

SOUNDBITE (English): Usain Bolt, six-time Olympic gold medallist (on competing at the Anniversary Games):

"It means the world, it's wonderful. The crowd is always great and that's one thing I really appreciate when I'm running here. The track is wonderful and it's going to be a great competition coming here."

SOUNDBITE (English): Usain Bolt, six-time Olympic gold medallist (on recent decision to uphold Olympic ban on Russia's track and field athletes):

"For me, if you have the proof and you catch somebody, I definitely feel that you should take action. And if you feel like banning the whole team is the right action, then I am all for it because as I said, rules are rules and doping violations in track and field are getting really bad. So if you feel like you need to make a statement, then thumbs up."

SOUNDBITE (English): Usain Bolt, six-time Olympic gold medallist (on whether the entire Russian team should be banned from Rio Olympics):

"I leave it up to the big heads to make this decision really. For me it's neither here nor there. After, respect those decisions. I can't be worried about these things, for me these are really sideshows, and if you get caught up in these things as athletes then you lose focus on the goal in hand. I have to focus on me going there and defending my titles, so I don't get too caught up in these things, my management are the ones who inform me of these things sometimes, but I don't watch or listen or keep a key note, because I don't really have a say in what's done and what's not."

SOUNDBITE (English): Usain Bolt, six-time Olympic gold medallist:

"I always think that if you are cheating, I always feel it's a good message to show that if you cheat or if you go against the rules, then we are going to take serious action. This will scare a lot of people and send a strong message that you know that sport is serious and we want to clean the sport up, so I definitely think so."