Six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has been ruled out of Saturday’s Jamaica International Invitational meeting because of a slight hamstring strain, his agent said.

The 100 and 200 metres world record holder felt tightness in training over the weekend and in consultation with coach Glen Mills decided not to risk anything at this early stage of the season, agent Ricky Simms told Reuters.

“It’s a small strain and he’s hoping to be okay for next week but you know it’s day by day,” Simms said.

Asked if the injury was serious, Simms replied: “No. He hopes to be running in Cayman by next week, so it’s what you call a grade one strain, which is you can’t sprint, but you can walk okay. He’s not limping or anything.”

Bolt was scheduled to run his first 200 metres of the season against Jamaican Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir and American Wallace Spearmon in the meeting.

His next scheduled race is a 100 metres in the May 8 Cayman Islands meeting.

“I am disappointed to miss the Kingston meet as I love running in front of my home crowd in Jamaica,” Bolt said in a statement.

“I’m told it is only a grade one strain so hopefully I will be okay soon.”

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