Sensational 2008 Olympic Games sprinter Usain Bolt will skip the remainder of the 2010 track competition after suffering a back injury.

The 23 year old Jamaican star who took Beijing like a thunderbolt in the 2008 Olympics suffered his first defeat in two years when he was handily beaten by American sprinter Tyson Gay last August 6 in a Diamond League meet in Stockholm.

BBC Sport quoted Bolt as saying “2011 and 2012 are very important championship years and I hope to be back fully fit and healthy,”  following a medical examination in Germany. This means Bolt will  miss the remaining Diamond League meetings in Zurich and Brussels.

The Olympic and world champion told BBC Sport “I am very disappointed to miss two of the top meetings on the circuit, but trust that it is better for me not to take any risks this year.” said the Olympic and World champion.

He added “I would like to thank everyone for their support and look forward to coming back stronger next year” indicating he will aim for more medals at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

Bolt was examined on Monday by a Munich doctor who found a problem with the 100m and 200m world record holder’s lower back.

But Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms said his client was taking a long-term view on the injury.

“With a view to his future career we believe further treatment to loosen his back followed by rest will be in his best interest,” said Simms in a statement.

“He has a tightness that restricts his ability to generate power in his stride and continuing to race in this condition could risk injury to his hamstrings or calf muscles.”

Bolt had been scheduled to face Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell – bringing together the three fastest 100m runners in history – at this year’s final Diamond League meeting in Brussels on 27 August.

Bolt has been struggling with an Achilles tendon injury and looked far from fit as he stuttered behind Gay in the 100m in Sweden, with the American cruising to victory in 9.84 seconds – just 0.02 slower than the season’s fastest time.

“You can get beat any day,” said Bolt after the race adding “I still need to work on my strength. The first 10 metres was rubbish. I had no power, no nothing. I have tried to work on it but it didn’t work out.”

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