Usain Bolt has declared his sympathy for Mo Farah, in the wake of doping allegations against coach Alberto Salazar.

Both athletes will be fighting against issues at this weekend's Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium on 24 July, with Bolt struggling with injury and Farah aware of the whispers behind his back.

"I've come through the ranks with Mo, so I've seen the work that he's put in. For me I'm sorry for Mo, because everyday I hear in the papers they're trying to tear him down. I think he works so hard.

"To get where he is, for somebody's mistake to be causing him problems, for me I just really hope that he doesn't take it too seriously and it doesn't stress him out. It's part of the sport, people like to point fingers sometimes."

The pair share an agent in Ricky Simms and Bolt said he's reached out to Farah through Simms.

The Jamaican added: "When you come through difficult times like this you don't try to get into someone's personal space too much. I've relayed messages to Ricky, I've talked to Ricky to see where his head space is at.

"He says he's okay, he's just trying to focus on the championships and training hard. I know I'll see him this weekend so we can talk."

Farah, who will defend his world titles in Beijing next month, is standing by Salazar, whom he has worked with since 2011 and who helped transform him from a European champion to the global king of distance running.

Bolt says he can understand his decision.

"When you have confidence in your coach over the years and you know who he is as a person, of course you're going to want to support him as an athlete," he commented. "If he believes in his coach, I believe in him."

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