and ended a career-long streak of 286 at-bats without connecting.Phillips is 9 for 15 with s

LONDON -- Insisting that he is running clean, Usain Bolt said Thursday that the recent spate of doping scandals in athletics will damage the sport. They wont affect his preparations for the upcoming world championships, however. The worlds fastest man stopped short of condemning Jamaican teammates Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson or American rival Tyson Gay, whose failed doping tests have left the sport in turmoil ahead of the worlds in Moscow next month. "Definitely its going to set us back a little bit," Bolt said in London ahead of a Diamond League meet, his first competition in the city since his three gold medals at last years Olympics. "But as a person I cant focus on this. "I still have world championships, everyone is stepping up their game so I have to really focus on that. ... I am just trying to work hard, run fast and hopefully help people to forget what has happened, and just move on." Bolt will run the 100 metres on Friday and the 4x100 relay on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in a meet marking the anniversary of the start of the 2012 London Olympics. In his first public comments since news of the high-profile doping cases broke, Bolt promised that he wont be the next sprint star to be embroiled in a scandal. "I was made to inspire people and to run, and I was given the gift and thats what I do," the six-time Olympic champion said. "I am confident in myself and my team, the people I work with. And I know I am clean. "So Im just going to continue running, using my talent and just trying to improve the sport." If the recent cases have cast doubt about Bolts own integrity, the 100- and 200-meter world record-holder asked any skeptics to just check his record. "If you were following me since 2002 you would know that I have been doing phenomenal things since I was 15," the 26-year-old Bolt said. "I was the youngest person to win the world juniors at 15. I ran the world junior (200) record 19.93 at (17) ... I have broken every record there is to break, in every event I have ever done. "For me, I have proven myself since I was 15. ... I have shown everything throughout the years since I was always going to be great." It was announced earlier this month that Powell and Simpson tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrone at Jamaicas national championships in June. Discus thrower Allison Randall and two other athletes also returned positives for banned substances at the same meet. "Im just sitting and waiting to see the results and whats what," Bolt said. "Theres a lot things that hasnt been said and done yet." Bolt said he has spoken only briefly via text message with Powell since the positive test was announced. "I didnt want to bombard him with questions," Bolt said. "I told him, Sorry to hear what was going on. And he said Yes, its kind of rough, its hard. "And I just told him to stay strong and stay focused, and hopefully everything will work out." Powell was the last man to hold the 100-meter world record before Bolt broke it in 2008. He also helped the Jamaicans to the 4x100-meter relay gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In almost 20 minutes with reporters in London on Thursday, Bolt avoided any direct criticism of his fellow athletes. "In life things happen, people make mistakes, mishaps happen," Bolt said in response to a question about doping sanctions. Both Powell and Gay claim they failed doping tests because they trusted people they didnt know very well. Bolt does not doubt his inner circle and was astounded by the suggestion he could inadvertently be given a banned supplement and test positive. "What? I am clean," Bolt shot back while insisting he only takes vitamins and not supplements. "You have to be careful as an athlete what you do and what you ingest, the food you eat and stuff like that. "But I am not worried because ... I have a great team around me." Questions about the apparent leniency of two-year doping bans were sidestepped by Bolt. "I cant determine how harsh the rules should be," he said. Sprinter Kim Collins, who is also competing in the two-day London meet, accepts that every athlete is now under scrutiny, saying the wave of recent doping cases "leave a bad taste for all of us." "Everyone is judged and I will be judged running fast at my age," said the 37-year-old Collins, a former 100-meter world champion from St. Kitts and Nevis. Scarpe Salomon Offerta . PETERSBURG, Fla. Scarpe Salomon Outlet . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. http://www.salomonoutlet.it/ . PAUL, Minn. Outlet Salomon Online . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Salomon Outlet Italia . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. PITTSBURGH -- Homer Bailey knew before he finished warming up that his second start since Tommy John surgery wasnt going to be as smooth as his first.Ivan Nova pitched seven innings to win his first start with Pittsburgh, Bailey didnt make it out of the fourth inning and the Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Saturday night.Bailey (1-1) allowed five runs and eight hits in three-plus innings. He struck out four and walked one. He was coming off a promising season debut, limiting San Diego to two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 win on July 31.There wasnt acute pain but I just didnt feel very good, Bailey said. I couldnt finish my pitches. I knew before the game it might be a problem but I was hoping to throw enough pitches to get us through until we could get the lead to the bullpen.I know this is part of recovery process but it doesnt feel good when you cost your team the game. The bullpen pitched great but the starter didnt.Nova (8-6) was acquired from the New York Yankees on Monday for two players to be named and gave up three runs and six hits with five strikeouts and no walks. He had spent his entire seven-year career with New York.Nova pitched more than six innings just three times in 15 starts with the Yankees this season.I did what I wanted to do -- be a little bit aggressive in the strike zone, Nova said. I got a lot of strikes and got quick outs.Starling Marte welcomed reliever Josh Smith, who took over for Bailey, with a two-run single in the fourth to give the Pirates a 5-2 lead. Marte and Josh Harrison each had two hits for Pittsburgh, which entered three games out of the second NL wild card.Tony Watson pitched a perfect ninth for his second save in three chances since All-Star closer Markk Melancon was traded to the Washington Nationals.dddddddddddd Watson blew the save Friday night but the Pirates rallied for a 3-2 win.The Reds Brandon Phillips hit two solo home runs off Nova for the 13th multihomer game of his 15-year career. The second baseman raised his season total to eight but had last homered May 7 and ended a career-long streak of 286 at-bats without connecting.Phillips is 9 for 15 with six RBI and six runs in his last four games.I dont keep tabs on that stuff too much but everyone else does, Reds manager Bryan Price said. It seems right now hes getting the barrel on the bat every time hes up to bat and the results are starting to show.Reds shortstop Zack Cozart extended his hitting streak to 14 games.Phillips second home run cut the Reds deficit to 5-3 in the seventh. He also homered in the second when Tucker Barnhart had an RBI single to put Cincinnati ahead 2-1.The Pirates scored twice against Bailey in the third to move in front 3-2. John Jaso was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded with two outs and Francisco Cervelli followed with an RBI single.The Pirates won their second game in a row following a 1-5 stretch while the Reds lost back-to-back games for the first time since dropping three in a row from July 8-10. The loss also ended Cincinnatis streak of six consecutive series victories since the break.UP NEXTReds: RHP Dan Straily (6-6, 3.80 ERA) will start Sunday in the finale of the three-game series and try to extend his streak of six straight quality starts.Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (7-6, 2.73) is 0-5 with a 5.30 ERA in seven career starts against Cincinnati. ' ' '