Usain Bolt taking time off after world championships

Usain Bolt is skipping the Weltklasse Diamond League meet in Zurich on Sept. 8, four days after the world championships finish in Daegu, South Korea.

Weltklasse organizers say Bolt is unable to compete in their 100 metres race “due to a particularly strenuous schedule” at the world championships.

Bolt is scheduled to defend his 100 and 200 titles in Daegu (South Korea), and Jamaica’s 4×100 relay gold medal.

Asafa Powell and Walter Dix are set to head the 100 lineup at Zurich, which stages the first half of the Diamond League finals program.

Bolt is expected to run the 200 when Brussels hosts the second half eight days later.

Weltklasse organizers say 14 individual Olympic champions and 16 world champions are scheduled to compete at their meeting.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press