As anticipation builds towards a duel between Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin at the World Championships, the Jamaican has made light of claims he is running scared from his rival.

Bolt is the double Olympic champion in both the 100 and 200 metres, as well as the world-record holder over both distances.

But Gatlin has been in superb form in 2015, clocking 9.74 seconds - a personal best in the 100m - in the Diamond League in Doha last month, before recording 19.68secs in the 200 two weeks later, the fastest time of this year.

With the Worlds in Beijing set to get under way in August, fans are eagerly awaiting a clash between Bolt and Gatlin, although the former will only be running the 200m at the upcoming Diamond League meeting in New York.

"Afraid? When people say that, I laugh," Bolt said. 

"I've been in the sport for years and I've never dodged anybody. When it matters, I've always showed up and shown that I'm the best.

"Fact is, I'm not in the best of shape and I'm not going to put myself out there if I know I'm just coming back and I need time to get back to where I need to be.

"When I get to Beijing, I'll be ready to go and that's when the showdown will be.

"Gatlin has been doing a lot of talking, saying a lot of things. 

"He's proved he's running fast times and he's ready. So it should be exciting going into the World Championships.

"I look forward to competing when people talk - because if you don't back it up, you look really stupid."