By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
Bolt
JAMAICA'S MEDAL chances at the 10th Coca-Cola/IAAF World Junior Championships (WJC) in Italy suffered a major blow with news that World Junior 200m champion Usain Bolt has pulled out of the Games.
According to Bolt's local manager, Norman Peart, the athlete re-injured his left hamstring while training in London with his personal coach, Fitz Coleman, on Thursday, July 8 and a MRI scan was done which confirmed the injury.
Peart told The Gleaner that Bolt has been referred to one of the world's foremost physicians who deal with that type of injury and he will fly to Germany early this week and will consult with Dr. Muller Wolfarth - a renown specialist in the treatment of such injuries.
Dr. Wolfarth, Peart said, has worked with the German national football team and a number of top European football players and is considered an expert in dealing with hamstring injuries.
Meanwhile, Peart said there is no timetable on the athlete's return.
Bolt was expected to join the other members of the Jamaican contingent - who left here last night - in London.
When contacted yesterday afternoon, Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) Youth Director and team manager, Alfred Francis, said he was told not to comment on the Bolt issue.
"I am not able to comment on that subject," he said. "I have been asked not to comment on that subject."
Pressed further for comment, the manager of the team going to the WJC reiterated: "I won't say anything about this subject."
However, he did say there are doubts surrounding the fitness of another male athlete, Michael Gardener, and his participation at the championships.
Francis said: "Michael Gardener will be evaluated by the doctor just before the team depart."
Just under a week ago, Bolt, the World Junior 200-metre record holder, was named in Jamaica's 33-member squad that was summoned to camp at G.C. Foster College to prepare for the July 13-18 Championships in Grossoto, Italy, but he was the only athlete who did not show up.
Since the Penn Relays, Bolt has been pulling out of meets regularly due to injury. He was down to compete at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic and the June 12 Bislett Games in Bergen, Norway, both in early June.
The 17-year-old Bolt, who broke the World Junior record at the CARIFTA Games in Hamilton, Bermuda on April 11 when he stopped the clock at 19.93 seconds which is also the fastest time in the world in the last two years, also missed the National Championships.
